What Exactly Is an Annulment

Film Focus: Paul Shogren, a canon lawyer, discusses the nature of annulments in this video. He begins by defining his terms, differentiates between a divorce and a declaration of nullity, and explains what an annulment is not.

Text Focus: Pages 191-192

Discussion Questions:

1. How would you explain a declaration of nullity to someone who has never heard of it before?
2. How are annulment procedures different from divorce procedures? Why is this significant to an annulment process?
3. What does it mean to say that “marriage enjoys the favor of the law”?
4. What is an annulment not?