Vatican reform of annulment process will be presented tomorrow

Vatican City, Sep 7, 2015 / 12:01 pm

The Holy See press office has announced that two motu proprio will be released on Tuesday, both of which concern the reform of the process for the declaration of the nullity of marriage.

The two motu proprio, Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (The Lord Jesus, a meek judge) and Mitis et misericors Iesus (Jesus, meek and merciful), will be presented at a noon press conference at the Vatican Sept. 8.

The two documents regard the reform of the process for marriage annulment in both the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

Those speaking at the conference are Msgr. Pio Vito Pinto, dean of the Roman Rota; Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Bishop Dimitrios Salachas, Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarch of Greece; Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Msgr. Alejandro Bunge, prelate auditor of the Roman Rota; and Fr. Nikolaus Schoch, substitute promoter of justice at the Apostolic Signatura.

Each of the presenters are members of the commission established by Pope Francis just one year ago – Aug. 27, 2014 – to study reform of the annulment process.

The commission was to "focus on the preparation of a proposal for the reform of the marriage annulment process, seeking to simplify and streamline the procedure, while safeguarding the principle of the indissoluble nature of marriage," the Holy See press office stated when it was announced.