h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I guess I needn't have wondered what the result would be from the Catholic Church's "marriage tribunal".

This morning, I got a missive from the tribunal office notifying me that they had rendered a decision that my marriage to "have been invalid". Not invalid "according to the precepts of the Catholic Church", mind you. They have pronounced it invalid, period.

I have 20 days to appeal the decision. Whether I do or not, it is reviewed "in the second instance". After that they will send me a lovely document with the tribunal seal.... I suppose so I can frame it and put it on the wall.

I have very little doubt of the outcome. Since they didn't bother to contact my only witness, I can be assured that they have no interest in my side of things.

The fact is, despite my ex's fiance leaving a trail of debris in the form of affairs with other married men and common-law husbands, because she is a "good little Catholic" who is playing by the rules, as backward and inane as they are, for her own self-serving reasons, everything goes her way. The fact that neither my ex or I is or was a Catholic, were not married in the Catholic Church, and have no ties to the Catholic Church, is no impediment to their being able to decide my marriage invalid.

Let me make this clear.

I have no objection to him marrying the tramp. He is free to do so. However, I find it disgusting that the Catholic Church thinks it has the "right" to make any pronouncements about me or my marriage, let alone decide my marriage was invalid.

My marriage was NOT invalid. I was married for 8 years to a man I loved. We were both adults who made the choice to marry and made the choice to divorce. We made those decisions freely and in good conscience. We married leaglly. How arrogant of the Catholic Church to presume to decide we didn't.

F**king Catholics. Grew up being told I had to be one - ick.

What does all this mean to you though? I mean, other than it being very insulting and all that? Is there anything practical that will affect you because of this?

az

No. It is the principal of the thing, really. I would no more think the Catholic Church could decide my marriage never took place, than I would that the Unitarian Church could decide that two catholics here never married because one of them wanted to remarry in our church.

It is also the stupidity of their whole thinking on this.

"You are not married, never were married in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Your marriage is determined never to have happened. However, your children are legitimate, because they were born while you were in wedlock."

What sort of schizophrenic thinking is that, I ask?

Yeah well, who the f**k cares what they think anyhow?

I'd actually prefer it if the Catholic Church thought everything I had ever done wasn't legitimate in their unholy eyes.

W*nkers.

az

Well, I am not a squeeky whell for nothing.

Unlike some. I don't back off and let them think they are in the right. It may not make any difference, but, on principle, I am not about to just walk away.

squeeky wheel, of course

Right on, az! Can't count the number of times I've said that, or similar, about the Catholic Church.

Mudhooks, let us know what happens.