 Annulment is not a divorce ; it is a ruling by the Church that the marriage was never valid . The marriage is deemed invalid if it lacks one of five integral elements : it should be " complete " , " lifelong " , " mutual " , a " free gift " and of " man and woman " . According to Pope John Paul II 's Address to the Roman Rota on 22 January 1996 , couples do not have a right to an annulment , but do have a right to make their case for nullity or validity before " the competent Church authority and to request a decision in the matter . " According to the Catholic Diocese of Arlington : 
 Annulment <a href='negative_concord' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>not</mark></a><a href='None' title='3'><mark>a</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>divorce</mark></a> ; it is a ruling by the Church that the marriage <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='6'><mark>never</mark></a> valid . The marriage is deemed invalid if it <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>lacks</mark></a> one of five integral elements : it should be " complete " , " lifelong " , " mutual " , a " free gift " and of " man and woman " . According to Pope John Paul II <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>Address to the Roman Rota on 22 January 1996 , couples do not have <a href='None' title='9'><mark>a</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='10'><mark>right</mark></a> to an annulment , but do have a right to make their case for nullity or validity before " the competent Church authority and to request a decision in the matter . " According to the Catholic Diocese of Arlington : 
Annulment ain't no divorce ; it is a ruling by da Church dat tdamarriage ain't never valid . The marriage is deemed invalid if it lack one of five integral elements : it should b " complete " , " lifelong " , " mutual " , a " free gift " and of " man and woman " . According to Pope John Paul II  Address to thdaoman Rota on 22 January 1996 , couples do not have no right to an annulment , but do have a right to make their case fa nullity or validity before " the competent Church authority and to request a decision in the matter . " According to the Catholic Diocese of Arlington :