Does an annulment “erase” or “wipe away” a marriage?
No. When an annulment is granted, it is not a conclusion that no marriage of any kind existed. Naturally, there was some type of wedding ceremony and at least a valid civil marriage that did, in fact, take place. If the wedding in question took place in a Catholic church, it remains recorded in the parish’s official marriage register even after an annulment is granted, followed by a notation of the annulment entered alongside of it. Furthermore, no one can deny that two people did experience some kind of life together for the duration of their union. Nothing is “erased.” An annulment is, more accurately, a “declaration of invalidity.” In other words, it is the recognition, by the Catholic Church, that some essential element was missing at the time the parties said “I do”, which prevented the wedding from resulting in a permanent, binding union that can be dissolved only by the death of one of the parties. It is no longer considered a sacred bond, or a sacrament for Christians.
