Annulments & Divorce Care

Divorce Care

Experiencing the breakdown of a marriage is difficult, to say the least. One's hopes and dreams, investment and resources, are placed in the sacramental relationship that's expected to last a lifetime.

Divorce, then, is an experience that can be described as traumatic and full of grief. The Catholic Church recognizes the pain and hurt associated with divorce and offers healing for those who want to move on, while retaining the dignity and validity of marriage. In order to assist in healing after a divorce, and to accompany those who have gone through this painful experience, the diocese facilitates two healing programs, Beginning Experience and The Catholic Divorce Survival Guide. 

• The Catholic Divorce Survival Guide
  A ministry for men and women who have suffered from divorce. The 12-week program features 30-minute DVD episodes each week that cover topics of shock, denial, anger, grief, guilt, forgiveness, money, the courts, the kids, the ex-spouse, annulment, dating, sexuality, spirituality, remarriage or staying single, and much more. To learn more about this program visit their website here or contact our local leader Deacon Tony Valdez at 515-979-2301.

There are many myths about being divorced and being Catholic. Many people have questions regarding what an annulment means and what the annulment process entails, so the Tribunal developed the brochure and FAQ sheet.

Tribunal & Annulments

The Tribunal is the judicial branch of the Des Moines diocese. This department is responsible for assisting with matters pertaining to Church law, known as Canon law. While the department addresses matters delegated by the bishop, its primary work focuses on receiving and investigating petitions for declaration of invalidity of marriages, commonly known as annulments.

As a part of the journey toward healing after the end of a marriage, individuals may seek a declaration by the Church that their marriage was not valid in the eyes of the Church. This is called an annulment, or decree of nullity. This does not mean that parties are free of obligations of the union, such as the welfare of children. An annulment acknowledges there was a wedding ceremony, or a relationship existed. An annulment determines whether an essential element was lacking in the consent of at least one partner in the marriage. If so, the union would not be valid according to the Church's understanding of marriage.

To start the process, please contact your parish priest or deacon. For more information, contact the diocesan Tribunal office at 237-5004.