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I was of the impression that things were slightly different in Goa. We have
what is called a ‘civil registration’, which is basically a process whereby
the two people intending to get married inform/intimate the civil registrar
of their intent to get married. The civil registrar then processes the
application, and advertises the proposed union, calling for objections if
any, within a set number of days. After this process is over, the couple
has the choice of getting married before either a priest, a bhat or a
judge/civil official, who in turn will pass on a confirmation to the civil
registrars office that the marriage has taken place.
So the couple in question are not getting married twice, but only once. In
the case of an inter-religious union, then either the bhat or the priest
will actually conduct the marriage. In case the couple want to go to the
second religious minister, then they only get a blessing, and not a second
marriage!
So you see, it looks like there is some confusion between a civil
registration which is done in Goa, with a civil marriage which is done
elsewhere. Incidentally, the civil registration has a validity, and the
marriage has to be finalised within 3 months of the registration
formalities, failing which the process needs to be repeated.
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 03 Oct 2004 13:53:40 +0530
From: Vidyadhar Gadgil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Organization:
Subject: [Goanet]Re: Catholic wedding: a sacrament
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
This approach to the issue of marriage on the part of the Catholic has
always struck me as peculiar. In case of marriages between Catholics and
non-Catholics, the issue often comes up, as the Catholic half of the
union tends to be very attached to the sacrament and therefore insists
on it being carried out -- in addition to the civil wedding.
This is peculiar, especially since 'secular' laws like the Special
Marriages Act have been created specifically to enable marriages without
religious trappings, and this is particularly useful to marriages
between people of different religions. Else, everybody insists on
carrying out what their faith prescribes, and people get married twice
or even thrice.
Maybe the Church needs to relook at its position and accept that
'secular' procedures are equally valid?
The Christian marriage is regarded as "sacrament",
while the non-Christian marriage is not. This point is debatable
and some
Catholic theologians do not like the distinction, but it is
still held.
