7 Ways You Can Help Pope Francis Get His Wish

Pope Francis wishes the annulment process was free. As a matter of fact, in his January 23rd address to Tribunal of the Roman Rota on the occasion of the inauguration of the Judicial Year, he stated, "And this is a point I want to emphasize: the sacraments are free. The sacraments give us grace. And the (annulment) process touches the sacrament of marriage. How I wish that all processes were free!"

Free annulments? That is an amazing prospect for anyone who wants to avail themselves of the process, especially since going through a divorce typically creates extreme financial hardships. The Holy Father makes a great point... the sacraments are free and the annulment process is connected to a sacrament so it should be free, too. I've frequently referred to the annulment process as the 8th sacrament, myself.

I love the conversation this brings into focus because both sides of the issue are worth discussing. In my own experience back in the 1990's, I could not afford my diocese's annulment process fee of $600 and the tribunal graciously gave me the option to make minimal payments of $10 a month or not pay at all because of my hardship. That was generous, and important to me as a struggling Catholic. But what about the burden placed upon dioceses and archdioceses who have to foot the administrative bill for the piles and piles of cases stacked up waiting to be heard, let alone the influx of new cases that will inevitably and unfortunately clog the pipeline? Where will the money and the resources come from if the process is free?

I personally don't have the answer to that question. I'll leave it to the experts. But if you are planning to go through the annulment process, I do have 7 tips you can take advantage of that will help a tribunal lower their costs:

1.     Don't drag your feet when it comes to filling out the paperwork.

Everyone complains the annulment process takes too long, but few stop to consider that often times, it is the petitioner who is holding up the process by not filling out the paperwork in a timely manner. Completing the forms, especially the questionnaire is a daunting, painful task no question, but it has a cleansing effect that makes it all worth it. So, resolve to get through it in a timely manner because it costs the tribunal man hours and resources to chase after petitioners who begin the process and then never return their paperwork.

2.    Set expectations with your witnesses.

Asking someone to be a witness and share their testimony with the tribunal is an extremely personal endeavor. So, it's important to set expectations with them to help make it as smooth an experience as possible. If you let your witnesses know in advance that the questions regarding your marriage will be very personal and you want them to simply answer to the best of their ability, they will be less likely to hesitate or question the process. If they are uncomfortable providing details about your personal issues, it will help them to know you are okay with them sharing their side of the story and will prevent them from slowing down the process.

3.    Show up for your interviews and meetings on time.

It's just an act of courtesy that helps their day run more smoothly.

4.    Be respectful of the people processing your case.

Give them the space they need to do their jobs. Don't make frequent calls or hound them with emails to check on the status of your case.

5.    Find the answers you need on your diocese's website.

A tribunal administrative employee once said at least 50% of her day was spent on the phone answering questions while the piles of work on her desk grew and grew. A great way to find answers to your questions is to visit your diocese's website, click on the link to the metropolitan tribunal and take advantage of all the free information they provide, including downloadable forms to get the process started, an explanation of the grounds for annulment, and much more.

6.    Pray for the people involved in this very important decision making process.

This is the rest of your life that they hold in their hands. If there is ever a time for the Holy Spirit to be involved in a decision, this is it. Pray for them that they will be open to the wisdom and knowledge the Holy Spirit imparts and their decision will be true to the will of God. Okay, that may not save the tribunal money, but it is important.

7.    Tithe.

Even if times are tough, and if you've been through a divorce, they likely are. Remember the story of the widow's mite in the gospels of Mark and Luke. Even if you have only a dollar to spare, it carries great value with it and every little bit helps.

Feel free to send your questions and feedback to asklisa@catholicmatch.com and if you'd like to learn more about the annulment process, visit LisaDuffy.Com and download a free copy of my booklet, The Everyday Catholic's Guide To The AnnulmentProcess.