PITTSBURGH — Bishop David Zubik has announced the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will eliminate all fees for those seeking a marriage annulment. The decision is effective immediately.

Previously, according to the diocese, the fees totaled about $120,000 per year.

This year, two-thirds of that amount will be covered by a grant from Our Campaign for The Church Alive!, with the remainder coming from regular operating funds given through the Parish Share program. Over four years, the campaign funding will diminish so that by the fifth year, parish share will cover the full cost. The campaign will provide a total of $200,000 over four years.

“The parish share is an annual assessment raised by the parishes to support the diocese’s regular operating budget,” said Ann Rodgers, communications director for the diocese.

Rodgers said, “The diocese will not be raising parish shares to cover this. It is a matter of reworking our diocesan budget to accommodate.”

Until now, the annulment fee had partially covered the cost of maintaining a professional office of canon lawyers and support staff and other expenses involved in processing the cases.

The Rev. Thomas Kunz, judicial vicar and canon lawyer for the diocese, said there were between 150 and 170 annulments per year.

The diocese has always subsidized most of the cost of the annulment process. While the fee was waived for those who could not afford it, the very existence of a fee, which could be several hundred dollars, discouraged many others from applying.

By taking this step, Bishop Zubik said he hopes those who have been unable or unwilling to pursue an annulment will now be able and willing to do so.

A church annulment, which can only be sought after a civil divorce is final, is a declaration the marriage was not spiritually binding. Because marriage in the Catholic Church is held as one of its seven sacraments, the marriage tribunal examines issues related to the sacramental nature of marriage.