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AI Overview Prior to Vatican II, Catholic annulments based on fear or force (vis et metus) focused on demonstrating that lack of free consent rendered the marriage invalid, as canon law required voluntary consent. These cases often involved severe external pressure, such as threats of physical harm, death, or severe social/familial repercussions, making marriage the only escape. Examples of Pre-Vatican II Fear or Force Annulments: Forced Marriage due to Pregnancy: A young woman was threatened by her parents with being thrown out of the house or abandoned with an infant unless she married the father, establishing marriage under extreme coercion. Threats of Violence: A party was coerced into marriage by threats of bodily harm or death if they did not consent. Abduction: A marriage was declared invalid if one party was kidnapped or detained with the intention of forcing a marriage, and was not in a free place to choose otherwise. "Shotgun" Weddings: Situations where, due to pregnancy, parents forced a young couple to marry, often leaving no option for refusal. Social/Familial Coercion: Intense, unjust pressure from family to marry for status or to cover up a pregnancy, overriding the person's free will. Before Vatican II, these cases were more rigidly scrutinized, and annulments were generally rare, focusing strictly on the presence of external, grave, and unjust fear that made consent impossible.

Prior to Vatican II, Catholic annulments based on fear or force (
vis et metus) focused on demonstrating that lack of free consent rendered the marriage invalid, as canon law required voluntary consent. These cases often involved severe external pressure, such as threats of physical harm, death, or severe social/familial repercussions, making marriage the only escape. 
Examples of Pre-Vatican II Fear or Force Annulments:
  • Forced Marriage due to Pregnancy: A young woman was threatened by her parents with being thrown out of the house or abandoned with an infant unless she married the father, establishing marriage under extreme coercion.
  • Threats of Violence: A party was coerced into marriage by threats of bodily harm or death if they did not consent.
  • Abduction: A marriage was declared invalid if one party was kidnapped or detained with the intention of forcing a marriage, and was not in a free place to choose otherwise.
  • "Shotgun" Weddings: Situations where, due to pregnancy, parents forced a young couple to marry, often leaving no option for refusal.
  • Social/Familial Coercion: Intense, unjust pressure from family to marry for status or to cover up a pregnancy, overriding the person's free will. 
Before Vatican II, these cases were more rigidly scrutinized, and annulments were generally rare, focusing strictly on the presence of external, grave, and unjust fear that made consent impossible. 

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