An Attorney – Real Help or an Unnecessary “Addition”

Abstract

The article responds to a written statement by Fr. Dr. Waldemar Gałązka on the issue of church attorneys participating in the process for declaring nullity of marriage. The above mentioned author, referring to his many years of experience in court work, states that the presence of attorneys does more harm than good. This view is not shared by everyone. The church attorney plays an important role in reaching the objective truth in the process for declaring nullity of marriage. They must have not only appropriate education and experience, but also a moral fibre. Conscientiously performed tasks require a lot of work. It is up to the diocesan bishops to determine which attorneys appear on the court lists. Typically, the bishop consults with the judicial vicar before deciding to approve a person as church attorney. The possibility of intervewing a candidate for the position of an attorney, a temporary appointment which allows to see whether a given person has a predisposition to this profession, the actual participation of attorneys at annual court meetings within the metropolis or at the national forum, where they can enrich their knowledge – allow, over time, to identify people who actually perform their tasks with full commitment.