Administrative Procedures in Canonical Marriage Cases: History, Legislation and Praxis

Piero AMENTA, Marcus FRANCIS, Christopher HANCOCK

• Publisher: Wilson & Lafleur
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN:
  9782924974599
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Canon & Ecclesiastical Law

In three parts this book by Rotal lawyer Rev. Msgr. Piero Amenta, a professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University and an official of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, presents many issues fundamental to Christian marriage and its dissolution: the biblical and Patristic evidence for the indissolubility of marriage and the importance of consummation; the norms of marriage from Sacred Scripture and canon law; the relation between the quality of indissolubility and the dissolution of the marriage bond; the significance of the sacramental as well as the natural marriage bond; the norms related to dissolution of the marriage bond in favorem fidei; the norms related to dissolution of the marriage bond when consummation has not occurred; the personal separation of the spouses without the dissolution of the marriage bond; and the process for the presumed death of a spouse. In the Presentation of this book, Cardinal Velasio de Paolis writes: The book […] focuses on a very specific and clearly defined aspect of marriage: it deals with the administrative procedures related to […] the dissolution of or the release from the marriage bond. These are, in fact, two cases: the release from non sacramental marriage bonds in favorem fidei and the dissolution of a ratified, but unconsummated, sacramental marriage. [… In] cases of release, the marriage bond is dissolved by Pontifical authority through an administrative process. It is a grace or indult granted for the good of souls. While there has been a great deal written on the declaration of nullity, the literature on dissolution or release from the marriage bond is much less abundant since the subject is often overlooked and not well known. It is precisely because of such a void that this book is so valuable. The author's intention is not only to present current legislation, but also to review the historical development of the subject so that the contemporary context may he better understood. In writing this book, he has rendered a service, with diligence and clarity, to all those who seek to draw closer to the teaching and the discipline of the Church on the subject of marriage. This is an area that is becoming more and more relevant in the life of the People of God, especially all those who have the responsibility, in the halls of academies to teach and explore this subject and its implications. It only remains for me to wish this book every success.

Table of contents

• Administrative Procedure reliure allemande - Copie
• 002.107 Administrative procedures
• Administrative Procedure reliure allemande