Free Annulments

Yes, Catholics, you do get a bill or statement saying how much the annulment procedure cost.  Technically, one is not charged to get the annulment.  It is not as if the annulment is held up until you send a check.  But there are costs to run these annulment offices.  The Pope wants there to be no talk of money or cost.  He also wants the process to be speeded up.  One might work against the other.  The way for some cash strapped dioceses to cut costs is to cut staff and office supplies.  This would not make annulments go faster.  The judges who look at evidence and make judgments are canon lawyers.  They are turtles when it comes to speed.  There is a place for turtles, but not if you want speed.  So I would wait and see what the American church does.  We do most of the annulments.  In other countries and cultures the priorities are different.  Stay tuned.