Procedures: Favor of the Faith (Pauline or Petrine Privilege)

Favor of the Faith

Petrine Privilege

This process may arise when the marriage involves one baptized person (in the Catholic Church or in another Church or Christian community) and one non-baptized person. The case is prepared by the tribunal and is sent to Rome for a decision. Only the Holy Father may set aside this union in favor of the faith of the Catholic party with whom a new marriage is desired.

X, a baptized Christian, marries Y, an unbaptized person.
The non-baptism of Y can be proven.
The marriage ends in civil divorce.
The marriage may be set aside by the Holy Father in Rome.

The tribunal will need to be able to determine that one person in the marriage was never baptized. To aid the process, the names and addresses of witnesses who can attest to the non-baptism of that person, preferably parents, are needed. Other necessary documentation includes the marriage certificate and the divorce decree. Other requirements also need to be met, so please contact the Metropolitan Tribunal to determine if this process is appropriate for the marriage in question.

Pauline Privilege

This process may be applicable to a marriage involving two unbaptized people. It is based on the writings of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:12-15. The marriage may be set aside in favor of the faith for the person who receives Catholic baptism and wishes to marry in the Church. Thus, this privilege may not be granted until the person receives the sacrament of baptism and enters marriage.

X, an unbaptized person, marries Y, also an unbaptized person.
The non-baptism of both X and Y can be proven.
The marriage ends in civil divorce.
X, desiring a Catholic marriage, must be baptized as a Catholic.
The privilege takes place at the time of the new marriage.

It will be necessary to obtain the names and addresses of the former spouse and two witnesses who can answer questions regarding the non-baptism of each party. The tribunal can determine if the requirements to complete this process are present.