In Annulment, 100 Questions and Answers for Catholics, experienced canon lawyers Vere and Rapp write that the term annulment is a misnomer. The Church does not annul marriages; it declares them to be invalid.

A declaration of invalidity is a statement issued by the Catholic Church after carefully examining a broken relationship.  It declares that a marriage as the Church defines marriage never truly existed between the man and woman. The relationship may have enjoyed a big wedding followed by a common address and the birth of children. But not all weddings bring about a marriage.

The book explores the teaching of the Church on marriage. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Church viewed marriage more as a contract.  Since the Council, the Church has understood marriage more as a covenant between a man and a woman, the goals of which are the mutual welfare of the spouses (physical, emotional and spiritual), and an openness to the procreation, welfare and education of children.

Other chapters cover impediments to marriage, questions about consent, and the annulment process.  Interspersed are stories of annulment cases which link legal terms to common situations.

117 pages.  Softcover.