The purpose of this booklet is to de-mystify the process of petitioning for a Declaration of Invalidity and to assist you in speaking intelligently about it with a representative of the Catholic Church.  It is my hope that this booklet will assist you in recognizing that the Catholic process of petitioning for a Declaration of Invalidity is not something that can be easily mastered.  Rather, this is a spiritual process that seeks to strengthen your relationship with God and with others.

     People approach the Catholic Church for a variety of reasons in order to have a marriage declared to be invalid.  For example, some people approach the Church with the desire to have their marriage declared to be invalid and have no immediate plans to remarry.  Others approach the Church with the desire to assuage the conscience of a relative or a soon-to-be spouse.  (For this participant, the process can be a cumbersome struggle because it appears that the spiritual desire belongs to someone other than the person seeking the Declaration.)  On other occasions, the person who is seeking a Declaration of Invalidity possesses the spiritual desire to have their soon-to-be or current marriage recognized to be a valid cove-

nant and a Sacrament in the Catholic Church.  (Here, it appears that the individual desires to be restored in his/her relationship with God through the Sacramental life of the Church.)  No matter what your reasons, this booklet is designed to assist you on your spiritual journey.  The Catholic process for receiving a Declaration of Invalidity will challenge each participant to reflect prayerfully upon his/her life.  In this reflection, it is the hope of the Catholic Church that you will encounter the living Christ and be able to reflect your divine relationship to all people. . . especially your spouse.  With this goal in mind, this process has the potential to impart spiritual conversion, healing, forgiveness and hope.

    For centuries, there has been much controversy among people as to why the Catholic Church demands that this process be invoked for all marriages.  (You will recall the stories of King Henry VIII [1491-1547] and his many wives.)  Because this controversy continues to exist, the position of the Catholic Church must be explored in more detail.  As you begin exploring the Declaration of Invalidity, a few important issues must be highlighted:

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