Controversy seems to go hand in hand with U.S. politics and when you are talking about America’s political royal family – well controversy seems to go hand in hand with the Kennedy name too. Recently, new fuel has been added to that controversial fire. Joseph P. Kennedy II married Sheila Raunch in the 80s. in 1991, following a no-fault divorce, Kennedy requested an annulment and it was granted – in secret.
Raunch didn’t discover the ‘de-sanctification’ until 1996. By that time, Kennedy had married his former aide. Raunch was understandably upset – according to a Catholic annulment – her twelve-year marriage to Joseph P. Kennedy II never happened and what did that do to her twins? Raunch wrote a book about her experience in 1997. In Shattered Faith she blasted the Kennedy family and the Catholic Church’s proceedings. They granted the annulment without any notice or opportunity for Raunch to file a protest.
Kennedy offered the argument that an annulment was the only thing to do religiously – because otherwise he would not be able to marry again. When Raunch filed an appeal with Rome, there was some doubt that anything would be done about it – after all, she’s an Episcopalian. The controversy likely contributed to Kennedy’s decision to not seek re-election in 1998.
Annulment Repealed
Recently, Raunch received notification from the Boston Archdiocese that her appeal of the annulment was successful. According to an interview with TIME magazine, she said:
I am very pleased. There was a real marriage. It was a marriage that failed, but as grown-ups we need to take responsibility for that. The [annulment] process was dishonest, and it was important to stand up and say that.
The Vatican has indicated that they will be streamlining their Roma Rota process in order to answer the needs and desires of Catholics who are divorced, but want to remain with the Church. But they will be investigating American claims more carefully, because they believe there is particular abuse (75% of annulment requests come from the United States) of the practice here in the States.
An annulment is not a Catholic divorce despite popular belief. Instead, an annulment decrees that the marriage was never valid – thus it never occurred. Catholicism prohibits divorce. Annulment is the only way for a Catholic to end a marriage and start another while still being allowed to receive the sacrament and remain in the Church.
With the overturn of his annulment, Kennedy’s marriage to Raunch is the only marriage the Vatican now recognizes – so what does this do for his second marriage? That is the big question.
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