I was encouraged by Sue Oakley’s letter (1 November) describing her experience of marrying a divorced man and how a sympathetic priest was ready to conduct their wedding in spite of its canonical “irregularity”. During my 37 years as a parish priest I had the privilege of doing the same thing for a number of couples who felt that the annulment process was something that, for various reasons, was not for them.I feel that I was not unique in this and that many other priests must have responded similarly to couples in this situation. With the synod of bishops, is this not the time for us to speak out publicly and to declare ourselves in favour of a more compassionate approach in this sort of situation? Can we not follow Pope Francis and not judge others but give them the be