The process of the church's declaration of marital nullification: Case studies of women petitioners

• Main Author: Puno, Arsenia Marie T.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: Nullification; Marriage > Annulment; Divorce > Religious aspects > Catholic Church; Counseling Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/128; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_doctoral/article/1127/viewcontent/CDTG004105_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study sought to determine what women petitioners go through in the marital nullification process. It investigated what their experiences were from the time they started to study the possibility of leaving their marital relationship, apply for marital nullity, the whole nullification process until the nullity of the marriage has been granted by the Marriage Tribunal. This study look into the aftermath of the nullification process and find out what were the consequences of the marital nullity to the lives of the women petitioners, to their post-marital nullity family and their adjustments to their new lives. In a capsule, it was a study of the phases of experiences of 12 women petitioners from pre-marital nullity to post marital nullity processes. This research work employed the case study as a qualitative method of research. It remained open to data that came up along the process which further enriched the findings noting that it was one of the first studies on marital nullity in the Philippine Catholic Church. The sources of data were: The Bill of Complaints, Case History, and the result of the in-depth interview on the subjects. Likewise, result of the interview from significant others were included. The findings of the study were: (1) The significant factors that prompted the women petitioners to leave their abusive marital relationship were: physical, sexual, emotional, financial, psychological abuses inability to assume the essential obligations and responsibilities of marriage and due to the incapacitating causes of psychical nature associated with personality dysfunctions (2) The experiences in decision making process on leaving the abusive marital relationship were: shock and denial, love and sentiments, ambivalence, accommodation, anger and confrontation, getting crazy, attempting to commit suicide, loss of self esteem, pleading and determination to sever the marital relationship (3) Their experiences after the separation were mixed feelings of joy and pain. After filing of marital nullification there were feelings of determination and courage to pursue the decision made. During and after the hearing there were enthusiasm and mixed feelings of sadness and joy. There came a feeling of impatience due to the long wait for the coming of the verdict, later years, they became peaceful, forgiving understanding and begun to accept their situations (4) The consequences of the Church's declaration of marital nullification were: emotional health, psychological wellness, spiritual strength, financial stability, positive psychosocial relationship and positive adjustments to the post-marital-nullity-family. It was concluded that abuses happen in married life. That it takes time to reach a decision. That declaration of their marriage as null and void brings about positive consequences to the lives of the petitioners. That there is a new form of family structure. The presence of psychologists/therapists have hastens their journey from a difficult married life to a new life. It is recommended that (1) Guidance counselors / psychologists in counseling married couples resolve their marital conflicts for their own meaningful marital lives and to safeguard the sanctity of the marriage bond (2) Psychologists / therapists consider the difficult findings in this study in planning and implementing intervention programs for women considering marriage or marriage nullity (3) For policy development and action on the civil and religious field lawyers, judges in the Civil Court, the canon lawyers and judges in the Catholic Tribunal should consider the factors discovered (4) More rigorous preparation for both civil and pastoral care for successful marriages in the future should consider looking into the characteristics of the marital partners (5) The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines can use the findings as one of their resources in drafting their statements against violence on women as attempts to help in the liberation of women from the abuses in the family household (5) Parish Priests may disseminate information that the Church will assist those who are known to have separated, to go through the nullification process for inner peace and proper guidance (6) Future researchers my look into the significant factors that lead male petitioners apply for their marital nullification and examine the process that they under go and (7) A comparative study of annulment cases and divorce both from the Church Tribunal and the Civil Court can be done.