Roman Catholic Divorce?

Hi everyone ..:-)
MY friend ( MALE) got married under Syrian Catholic Kerala Tradition at a Syrian Catholic Church in Kerala , 4 months back. It have been registered in the Corporation Office too...He would like to apply for a DIVORCe Now.. Is it possible to go for a Divorce in a Family COurt or has he need to apply for it in the Syrian Catholic Church..?? He is upset because he heard that Syrian Catholic Priests and Churches wont allow Divorce ..Can he then apply in the Family Court..?? Is Indian Divorce Act 1869 applicable to him or the new Indian Amendenment Act 2001 ?? What are the procedures for him to apply for a DIVORCE.?? Please help him, dear friends...Thankyou very much and waiting for each of your responses..

I think he has to do both, legally speaking he HAS to only get divorced through the court, but religiously he has to get it through the church.

Legal divorce - from ANYWHERE - has absolutely no bearing on the Marital Bond forged in Holy Sacrament.

Oh, your friend could file for a legal divorce, sure. While the state will recognize him (and his ex) as no longer married, in the Eyes of God he and his ex are still married.

What your friend needs is an annulment from the Catholic Church. And, even if he goes for one, there's no guarantee he'll get it. You see, annulment is NOT a 'divorce' by the Church. An annulment is a declaration by the Church that, for a reason that still has yet to be determined (if there is even a reason at all) the marriage was null and void to begin with. Hence, there never was a valid marital bond.

Well said Daver - also note that if you do not get annulment from Church, you cannot get married as per Catholic Church's traditions & teachings, even if you manage to get divorce legally. And, it's pretty difficult to obtain annulment from Church unless his reasons for the same is no way acceptable.