Tribunal Office

The Tribunal's mission is an ecclesiological one, namely, to participate in one of the three powers which the diocesan bishop has ipso facto from the Church as a bishop governing a diocese, namely, his power as diocesan judge. Without ceasing to be the diocesan judge, however, he is obliged by law to appoint a judicial vicar, who with him constitutes one tribunal, a minimum of two diocesan judges, a promoter of justice and a defender of the bond, all of whom share his judicial responsibility. Since this mission comes from the Supreme Pontiff and Legislator, these officers, and others who hold positions connected with the Tribunal, are bound to perform their appointed tasks in conformity with the will of the Supreme Pontiff. As the Tribunal works to administer the judicial authority of the bishop, it also coöperates in administrative and other endeavors of the diocesan curia.

One important task of the Tribunal is to be a prudent and watchful guardian of the Sacrament of Matrimony in accordance with the supreme law of the salvation of souls. It must be vigilant in guarding the Sacrament of Matrimony against profanation. The Tribunal has a human and ecclesial reason to rejoice when the supreme law calls for an affirmative answer to the question about the possibility of remarriage after civil divorce in the case of an invalid marriage. Because of the disadvantages cited by the popes, the Church, for centuries, has applied the principle that a doubtfully valid marriage must be held to be valid until the contrary is clearly proved. Hence, unfortunately, more often than not, in cases involving parties' consent, the public good of the salvation of souls demands a negative answer. Then the Tribunal can do no more than pray that pastoral counseling can move those who may be disappointed to live as full a Catholic life as is possible in their situation.