Is annulment equivalent to divorce in the Catholic Church?
No. In a civil divorce, the civil court dissolves an existing marriage, whereas in a declaration of nullity (annulment) in the Catholic Church, the Tribunal declares that despite appearances and the parties’ good intentions, the marriage was never a true marriage in the eyes of the Church due to some deficiency. Why is there a Tribunal in the Catholic Church? Every diocese in the world is required to have a Tribunal. It is through the Tribunal that a diocesan Bishop exercises his judicial power in the diocese. The diocesan Bishop exercises this power either directly or indirectly. As a matter of practice, the diocesan Bishop exercises judicial power indirectly through the Officialis. The Presiding Judge is the Officialis and acts in the name of the diocesan Bishop in his exercise of judicial power. A Tribunal exists for the protection and the vindication of the rights of Christ’s faithful. While it is true that a majority of Tribunal work consists of the examination of failed marriages
