The Tribunal is the official external agency, which, after the fashion of a legal court, decides any judicial conflicts within the Roman Catholic Church.  In recent years, the Diocesan Tribunal has dealt primarily with the canonical aspects of marriage on two levels: namely, pre-marriage dispensations and permissions, and with marriage failure. 

The Tribunal is especially concerned with those individuals who desire marriage in accord with the laws and teachings of the Catholic Church.  It is also concerned with those individuals – either baptized or non-baptized – who have experienced marital failure and who now seek clarification of their marital status in the Catholic Church, with the possible permission to marry in the Catholic Church.

The Tribunal has the judicial power to review and decide all cases of marriage alleged null and void, and to conduct all other judicial processes under the laws of the Catholic Church, as vested in the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese, who constitutes but one tribunal with the Diocesan Bishop.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Reverend James I. Donlon, JCD, Judicial Vicar, whether by mail, e-mail or telephone.  All inquiries concerning the status of a marriage nullity case should be directed to Mrs. Anne Schmidt.

All correspondence, whether by mail or telephone, concerning pre-marriage dispensations and permissions should be directed to Ms. Anna Colello.  All inquiries or requests for dispensation and permission forms as well as for pre-nuptial investigation forms should also be directed to Ms. Anna Colello.

The office hours for the Tribunal are 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon and 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Judges

Revs. James I. Donlon, JCD; Matthew H. Frisoni, STL, JCL;
Anthony M. Barratt, STL, PhD; David V. Berberian, JCL; Joseph J. Koury, JCD
and Mr. J. Michael Ritty, PhD, JCL

Promoter of Justice

Sr. Marilyn Vassallo, CSJ, JCL

Defender of the Bond

Sr. Marilyn Vassallo, CSJ, JCL

Auditors/Advocates

Revs. Thomas J. Krupa, James L. Lefebvre, Joseph O'Brien, John L. Moyna

Secretaries/Notaries

Anne Schmidt and Anna Colello