Healing through justice and compassion in the Metropolitan Tribunal

HOUSTON— The Metropolitan Tribunal quietly serves as a vital arm of the Archdiocese’s judicial ministry, where justice and mercy intersect to guide the faithful through various personal matters, some challenging and difficult. Rooted in Canon Law and the Magisterial teachings of the Church, the Tribunal’s work extends far beyond its legal framework, embracing a pastoral mission to provide compassion and understanding to individuals navigating a range of circumstances. 

The Metropolitan Tribunal upholds the Church’s mission by safeguarding individuals’ rights and responsibilities while offering essential services. These include examining marriage nullity petitions, addressing Privilege of the Faith cases, advising on canonical matters, supporting diocesan agencies with marriage-related policies, and serving as a resource for clergy, religious and laity. As the Court of First Instance, the Tribunal decides cases of marriage validity, and as a Court of Second Instance, it judges appeals for the suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese.

Father Luke Millette, J.C.L., judicial vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal, acknowledged that the Tribunal’s work often goes unnoticed, as many in the Church only become aware of it when they are personally facing a matrimonial issue. This is particularly true since most cases focus on investigating requests from individuals who have divorced to determine whether their previous marriages align with the Church’s theological and canonical understanding of marriage. Recognizing the heartache that often accompanies the end of a marriage, Father Millette emphasized that the Tribunal’s mission extends beyond legal analysis, offering both clarity and healing during such a difficult and personal time. 

“Many of us have friends and family members who have gone through divorce, so it’s a very relevant issue in the life of the Church,” said Father Millette. “It is important to minister to these people, ensuring they know they belong to the Church, and helping to determine whether they are free to marry in the Church in the future. In that sense, it’s a vital ministry that touches entire generations, from parents to children to grandchildren.” 

Father Millette said there are a significant number of annulment petitions each year, with around 600 filed annually in the Archdiocese. He attributed this to Pope Francis’ 2015 reforms, which empowered local bishops to streamline the process and provide more compassionate support. 

“When Pope Francis changed some of the laws governing the matrimonial praxis in the Church, this helped make the process much smoother and much quicker for a lot of families,” Father Millette said. “This was a very significant change in the life of the Tribunal.” 

Anne Bryant, J.C.L., director of the Metropolitan Tribunal, has dedicated more than two decades to this ministry, viewing it as more than just a job — it’s a mission grounded in justice, mercy and commitment to the members of the entire Church. While the Tribunal’s work encompasses a range of cases, Bryant agreed that annulments constitute the majority of their caseload, often requiring extensive paperwork and time. This can be particularly challenging for individuals who are unfamiliar with the process or unsure of the necessary steps. 

“For me, the most significant part of working here is watching people heal,” Bryant said. “I’ve been here 22 years, and I have served quite a few people in person, on the phone or through letters or e-mails. The most significant thing for me is that they understand we care about them.” 

Because each annulment case is complex, Bryant said the Metropolitan Tribunal emphasizes education through parish visits and deanery meetings to help both clergy and laypeople understand the process and its spiritual significance. The Tribunal also trains case sponsors at parishes, empowering them to assist individuals locally and expand the ministry’s support. 

Although individuals may seek an annulment, not all requests are granted, particularly when there are insufficient grounds to support the case. However, Bryant noted that even when an annulment is not granted, the Tribunal staff takes the time to meet with individuals in person to explain their options, including the possibility of appealing the decision. 

This compassionate approach aligns with a perspective that is equally important to Ryan Fitzgerald, J.C.L., a judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal. 

“Sometimes people find themselves in a situation they shouldn’t be bound to,” Fitzgerald said. “We investigate each case, and hopefully, they can find healing one way or the other. They’ll have a greater appreciation for the Church’s teachings and what God is calling for them in their life.” 

As a part of his judicial work, Fitzgerald helped establish and now oversees the “Favor of the Faith” process, a rare procedure for non-sacramental marriages. In this process, the Metropolitan Tribunal conducts all necessary investigations and submits the evidence to the pope, who can dissolve the non-sacramental marriage if it benefits the individual’s faith. 

“The Tribunal’s work helps me see how seriously the Church takes marriage as a sacramental, lifelong reality in the midst of a fallen world,” Fitzgerald said. “It also shows that we don’t make people go through this lengthy, extensive process because we’re trying to be mean, or we’re trying to pry into people’s lives. Rather, we care so much about marriage, this gift from God to humanity, that we want to show it the respect it deserves.” 

The Metropolitan Tribunal is one of the 60-plus ministries in the Archdiocese supported by the Diocesan Services Fund that impacts the lives of thousands of Catholics every year. Father Millette said he is deeply grateful for the faithful’s generous contributions to the annual appeal, which fully funds the 12 to 14 employees on the Tribunal staff and ensures the ministry’s vital work continues. 

“I am sincerely grateful for all DSF supporters because every dollar they give helps those invisible ministries — ministries not directly funded by parishes like the Tribunal — that touch the entire life of the Archdiocese and transform the lives of those who experience them,” Father Millette said. “It’s a beautiful way they can support the Archdiocese.” 

Fitzgerald also acknowledged the crucial importance of supporting the annual DSF appeal.  

“I thank the donors of the DSF for helping sustain the Tribunal because we would not be able to perform this work without them,” Fitzgerald said. “We charge a small amount per case, but it is not nearly as much as it actually costs to finish a case. Without those donations, we would be in the red every year and wouldn’t be able to maintain this office.” 

Bryant agrees that the DSF is vital to the ministry’s ability to continue offering healing and spiritual freedom to those navigating the annulment process. 

“It’s very gratifying to see how much of a burden is lifted when people receive their annulments,” she said. “It’s uplifting to know we had a small part in that because the first step comes from them. God’s grace was with them when they sat down and decided to go through this process, and we’re just an instrument in that.” 

To learn more about the Metropolitan Tribunal, visit the website www.archgh.org/tribunal. 

To donate to the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), which supports over 60 ministries, go to www.archgh.org/DSF. Every dollar donated to the DSF directly supports these ministries, including direct services and education, which rely on this vital funding.