My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Church takes seriously its responsibility to promote and protect marriage and family because these institutions contribute to the good of each person, society, and the Christian community.

According to the teaching of Christ and the Church, the vow which husband and wife make to each other at their wedding is permanent and so is their union. It is indissoluble. They are to be faithful to each other for life. They are to be open to children and are to be ready and willing to nurture and educate their children. By God's plan, marriage is an intimate partnership of life and love in which the husband and wife give themselves to each other completely and accept each other unconditionally. Their love and faithfulness to each other is in turn shared with their children. They become a family.

That is why the Church has placed a great deal of emphasis on marriage preparation. In the Diocese of Erie we have many programs which assist couples so that they can know and understand what marriage entails. Also, prior to marriage couples need guidance so that they can evaluate their own readiness to commit themselves to each other for life.

Every marriage (whether it involves Catholics, Protestants, Jewish persons or others) is presumed to be binding once it has been entered into by a man and woman. The good of all concerned, including children, society, and the Church, demands this presumption.

Unfortunately, many good and sincere people find themselves in conditions or circumstances that result in separation or divorce. Their faith and their membership in the Church are still important to them and often they would like the chance to marry again in the Church.

The law of the Catholic Church directs the Bishop to establish a Tribunal whose purpose is to investigate those broken marriages at the request of one of the parties in order to determine whether there is any possibility of an annulment. In the Diocese of Erie, the work of the Tribunal is carried out be specially trained priests, deacons, religious, and lay people under the direction of the Judicial Vicar who is directly responsible to the Bishop.

The goal of the Tribunal's investigation must always be the truth about each marriage that it studies in light of the Church's teaching and discipline. An annulment can only be granted if there are sufficient proofs that the marriage was not valid from the beginning. Our Diocese is committed to spending a considerable amount of time, energy and resources on this work. We are also committed to looking after the spiritual good of everyone who is concerned, recognizing that the process of seeking an annulment is often painful.

In our Diocesan Tribunal you will find persons who are compassionate and fair, and who are ready and able to assist everyone with integrity and appropriate confidentiality. I want to assure you that anyone who has a question concerning the validity and binding force of a previous marriage will be treated with equal care and respect by our Tribunal.

Be assured of my prayerful remembrance for all of you whose lives are touched by this special ministry of the Tribunal.

Fraternally in Christ,
 

Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman
Bishop of Erie