Sacra Rota

The Sacra Rota, officially known as the Roman Rota, is an ecclesiastical court of the Catholic Church that primarily handles marriage annulment cases. It operates under the authority of the Vatican and interprets canon law. When couples seek an annulment, they appeal to this court, which examines the circumstances of the marriage to determine if it was valid according to Church law. The Rota's decisions can influence broader Church practices regarding marriage and divorce, and it serves as an appellate court for cases initially decided by lower ecclesiastical tribunals.