Powerpoint presentation of Canon Law update

The Tribunal

The Tribunal of the Diocese of Erie is a church court established by the Bishop to carry out a ministry of justice. Cases are judged which concern the vindication of a person's rights, the declaration of legal facts, and perhaps the imposition of penalties. In all of its dealings, the Tribunal is guided by The Code of Canon Law and the jurisprudence of the Church's highest tribunals. Above all, the Tribunal is guided by the supreme law of the Church, which is the salvation of souls.

The majority of cases judged by the Tribunal deal with a declaration concerning the validity of marriage (annulment). In this web site we have tried to answer a few of the most frequently asked questions about annulment cases.

Many people misunderstand marriage and annulments because they do not consult informed sources. For further information, please contact the Office of the Tribunal, a parish priest or deacon, or a Deanery Tribunal Representative.

Regular office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.



Resources
If you would like to read more about Marriage and Annulments, the following resources may help you:

  • Annulment: A Step-by-Step Guide for Divorced Catholics, by Rev. Ronald T. Smith. Chicago, IL: ACTA Publications, 1995.
  • Annulment: Do You Have a Case?, by Rev. Terence E. Tierney; revised and updated by Rev. Joseph J. Campo. New York, NY: Alba House, 1993.
  • Annulment, The Wedding That Was: How the Church Can Declare a Marriage Null, by Rev. Michael Smith Foster. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
  • Where Do You Stand With the Church? The Dilemma of Divorced Catholics, by Rev. John T. Catoir. New York, NY: Alba House, 1996.
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church, English translation. U.S. Catholic Conference - Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994, especially nn. 1601-1606, The Sacrament of Matrimony.