What is a Tribunal?


A Tribunal is the Church court for a local Roman Catholic diocese. It adjudicates internal Church legal affairs, including petitions for declarations of nullity of marriage. A Tribunal is composed of The Judicial Vicar, other Judges, and court officers, such as Promoters of Justice, Defenders of the Bond of Marriage, Advocates and Auditors.

The Philadelphia Tribunal is a Metropolitan Tribunal because it is the court of the Metropolitan Episcopal See of Philadelphia. It is the appeal court for all of the Roman Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania (the Roman Catholic Province of Pennsylvania).


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