Criticisms for Allowing
As in the instance of many controversial topics, exist numerous criticisms against the practice of a marriage annulment. A common argument refers to societal norms. People are more individualistic in modern times, women are more independent, thus creating a societal leniency towards divorce and annulments. Individuals in marriage find loopholes and ambiguous reasons for annulment. The second argument which goes in hand in hand with social implications is the modern interpretation of annulment law.
Further criticism on the part of the general public illustrates the Criticism of annulment includes the Catholic church and the implications that it carries. Obviously when annulment law was written centuries ago, the policy makers could not predict the complexity and diversity of our society today. It is only logical that such an archaic law would have deficiencies when applied to contemporary times. Reasons for annulment have not evolved as society has. Spousal abuse for instance is looked at today with great disgust and held in utter contempt. That being said, it is still not a suitable reason for annulment under the canon law. If a devout Catholic is in an abusive relationship she would have no means to end her marriage. In order to adapt to modern day beliefs and policies there has to be innovations, unfortunately for annulment law, policies have been left unchanged.
Many devout Catholics who have substantial reasons for annulment choose divorce instead to save considerable amounts of time. As divorce rates skyrocket past 50% the sanctity of marriage has clearly been put into question. The logic of waiting 14 months to uphold this divine sense is nonsensical to many. The time is a particularly important issue because the Catholic church does not allow a re-marriage during a pending annulment verdict.
During that 14 months, if one finds someone they would want to marry, they would have to wait till the pending annulment is granted. Annulment law restricts its users greatly, it restricts them from making decisions in their personal life. Reasons for annulment vary as do consequences but to the church they are placed under the same umbrella. It is nearly impossible to uphold annulment law, which was written thousands of years ago, while adapting to an ever changing society.
