Pope Francis has made it easier, quicker and cost-free for Catholics to have a marriage annulled under reforms announced in a papal letter Tuesday (September 8, 2015). Conservatives are said to view this change as a possible form of Church-approved divorce — Catholic divorce. In his letter, the Argentinian pontiff says annulment will henceforth require only one decision rather than having to be approved by two church tribunals, as currently. This change is to be introduced with an additional simplification. Matters will be handled by individual bishops rather than subject to a hearings process. While Francis is seeking to democratise the procedure in a way that would appear to make an increase in the number of annulments likely, his letter does not amend the exceptional conditions under which they can be granted. The annulment process still requires a belief that the marriage never existed in effect although many of the reasons for annulment would be recognizable as reasons for divorce. Alcoholism may be considered under the new interpretation of annulment. .
