Pembatalan (Anulasi) Pernikahan dalam Gereja Katolik karena Simulasi Kesepakatan Nikah (Simulatio Consensus): Tinjauan Yuridis Kanonik

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the concept of simulated matrimonial consent in Catholic marriage, particularly in relation to the validity of the marriage and the process of its annulment. Using a qualitative approach through literature study and juridical analysis, this research investigates the canonical norms governing matrimonial consent and the way these norms function in assessing the authenticity of an act of the will. The juridical analysis employed here is understood as a method of interpreting phenomena through a legal lens; evaluating their normative foundations, tracing their application in tribunal practice, and identifying the legal consequences for the status of the marriage. Within this framework, the study explores how the act of simulating consent, whether total or partial, disrupts the integrity of intention that forms the core of the sacrament of marriage. The validity of a Catholic marriage presupposes an alignment between internal will and external expression, by which two persons mutually give themselves to establish a communion of life (communio vitae). However, cases still arise in which one or both spouses engage in a simulation of consent, creating a discrepancy between internal intention and outward declaration. Simulated matrimonial consent (simulatio consensus) refers to a situation in which a person outwardly says “yes” during the wedding ceremony but internally rejects the consent being expressed. The findings show that simulated consent is not merely an internal issue of intention; it also produces concrete effects on the couple’s lived experience, including relational tension, misalignment of common life goals, and emotional distress, factors that often lead to petitions for annulment. These findings indicate that the simulation of consent is a significant element in ecclesiastical tribunal discernment when determining whether a marriage was validly contracted. This study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of matrimonial consent from a canonical perspective. It highlights the urgency of assessing intentionality in determining validity and offers pastoral implications for Church ministers, enabling them to guide couples with greater prudence, prevent defects of consent, and accompany those facing marital difficulties related to the integrity of the will.