About this episode
In this episode, I sit down with Brenda Prato, a canon lawyer from Malta who serves as Defender of the Bond in the Archdiocese of Liverpool and as a collegial judge in the Archdiocese of Armagh. As a married mother of two pursuing her doctorate in canon law at KU Leuven, Brenda brings both professional expertise and deeply personal insight to one of the Church's most misunderstood processes: marriage annulments.I'll walk you through:? What consent actually means in marriage—and why it's so much more than romance? The difference between covenant and contract in Catholic marriage theology? How canon lawyers examine everything from childhood to the wedding day to understand validity? Why "I got an annulment, so you will too" is a dangerous misconception? What marriage consummation really means (and why most people get it wrong)? The unique perspective women canon lawyers bring to tribunal work? When the Church can dissolve a valid marriage (it's rare, but it happens)? How pregnancy before marriage, doubts on the wedding day, and even being late to the ceremony reveal deeper truthsWhether you're navigating a difficult marriage, considering an annulment, or simply curious about what the Church actually teaches, Brenda offers clarity on a process shrouded in misconception. Her approach beautifully balances legal precision with pastoral compassion—she prays over every case, seeking moral certitude while honoring the human stories behind the paperwork.? Remember: The point of annulment isn't to punish or judge—it's to uncover truth. And truth, even when painful, is always rooted in love.========================================================Brenda's relevant links:Website: https://brendaprato.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-prato/
