General Catholic
What is an annulment, and isn't it just 'Catholic divorce'?
An annulment is not a divorce; it is a Church tribunal's declaration that a valid marriage bond never actually came into existence in the first place, due to some essential element lacking at the moment of consent.
Catholic teaching
Because a valid sacramental marriage is indissoluble, the Church cannot 'dissolve' it as civil divorce does; instead, a tribunal investigates whether the consent given at the wedding was free, fully informed, and open to marriage's essential properties, and only declares nullity if it was not.
Biblical foundation
Jesus teaches that 'what God has joined together, let no man put asunder' (Matt 19:6), affirming marriage's indissolubility as God's design; an annulment does not contradict this but recognizes that in a given case, a true marital bond was never formed to begin with.
Scripture references
Historical evidence
Church tribunals investigating the validity of marriage consent have operated under canon law procedures refined since the medieval period, always distinguishing this juridical investigation of validity from the pastoral and civil concept of divorce.
The Church Fathers
“The bond of matrimony remains between the living, however plainly a separation may have taken place.”