Divorce and annulment

It would be appreciated if Mgr Anton Gouder explains to us laymen the difference between difficult-to-get-divorce laws and the Church's annulment procedures. Both, in effect, go against what Christ said, namely: "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder".

It is true that by annulment the Church understands that the marriage never was. What we see strange is how some requests for annulment take years to be decided, and although we sometimes closely know the story and know there was a clear case for annulment, the Church decides negatively. Then there are other cases when an annulment is granted with lightning speed.

Also, since these annulments are decided upon by human beings, it is possible that the wrong decision could have been taken. What happens in such instances? Does it mean that these people have to suffer damnation because of a human error? And would the marriage vanish if the case were contested and eventually annulled?

Such thoughts make us wonder whether difficult-to-get divorce laws will serve society and the family better than annulment. Hence some enlightenment would be appreciated.