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To: Pastors
From: Fr. Dan Ketter, J.C.L., judicial vicar
When we launched the Tribunal Advocate Program in 2019, we simultaneously announced that we would no longer recruit and train new case sponsors but would support active case sponsors who wished to continue in the ministry. To that end, in 2020 and 2021 we provided ongoing training workshops for all active case sponsors. Anyone who expressed an interest in Tribunal ministry beginning in or after 2019 we directed to the Tribunal Advocate Program. As of the start of this year, we have fewer than 20 active case sponsors and nearly 130 commissioned advocates serving throughout the archdiocese.
With so many advocates and so few active case sponsors, I have decided to end the Case Sponsor Program and direct our energy to supporting and expanding our Advocate Program. Practically this means that we will no longer offer ongoing training for case sponsors, and case sponsors will need to refer anyone who approaches them for assistance with an annulment to a priest, deacon or advocate.
I am sending a letter to the remaining active case sponsors informing them of my decision and encouraging them again to consider taking part in our Advocate Program.
Feel free to contact me at dketter@archatl.com with any questions.