Marriage in Tahiti

[Phemie]

**In Europe, many countries don’t recognize religious wedding ceremonies, and registering in town hall is necessary step before a Catholic ceremony. **This was almost the case even in Italy, however the series of treaties creating Vatican City allows Catholic marriages to be recognized.

In the United States, its usually not an issue, as clergy are allowed to register to witness marriages and process the paperwork in most States (varies locally).

I’m aware of that and personally I wish it were like that in the US and Canada. You wouldn’t see the abuses you see now if couples came to the Church because it was important to them to be validly married, rather than the reason they do so now: it’s nicer than the judge’s office or it’s prettier for pictures. I’ve yet to meet a couple that says “It’s important to us to be married before God and have the Church recognize our marriage.” It’s usually just a mass of complaints about how the Church won’t do what they want her to do.

 

[asia53]

Hi. My daughter (who still needs to be confirmed) is 26yrs old and wishes to be married in Moorea at a beautiful Catholic church there. The priest only speaks French and we do not. How do we go about arranging for a marriage in the Church in Tahiti?

Hire a French translator, there are several online services. You need to start planning a year in advance.

Moorea is in the Archdiocese of Papeete, there is no website. Currently, the Archdiocese has no Bishop. Write a letter to the Archdiocese, asking for assistance/instructions.

Another contact is: Tahitian Tourism:North America This is a FAQ page on documents, etc There are legal fees to facilitate your paperwork through the legal system–$500 to $1000.

Recently, I read Tahiti has abolished the 30 day resident law for marriages. The Tahitians really want the tourism economy. It’ll be hard, but not impossible. However, you need to start planning a year in advance.

 

[Irishgal49]

A Catholic wedding is a sacrament, not an entitlement, and should be treated as such.

I don’t think the poster was railing about their rights, but rather saying that as a Catholic we should be able to arrange a wedding at any Catholic Church. If I’m Lutheran (and my mother is) I can marry in any Lutheran Church anywhere without having to have the pastor’s permission at my home parish. They simply call the Church and verify you are a member in good standing and that’s it.

I see why people leave the Church when it’s wedding time…I am surprised anyone even gets married in the Church–so many rules, classes, procedures how can anyone possibly keep it straight?

 

[Phemie]

I don’t think the poster was railing about their rights, but rather saying that as a Catholic we should be able to arrange a wedding at any Catholic Church. If I’m Lutheran (and my mother is) I can marry in any Lutheran Church anywhere without having to have the pastor’s permission at my home parish. They simply call the Church and verify you are a member in good standing and that’s it.

I see why people leave the Church when it’s wedding time…I am surprised anyone even gets married in the Church–so many rules, classes, procedures how can anyone possibly keep it straight?

It’s really not that complicated. If you want to marry outside your parish, all you have to do is find a real priest or deacon who is willing to officiate at the wedding. Then you go see your own Pastor and arrange everything. He does most of the work. You just have to do the preparation course, and, AFAIK, the Catholic Church is not the only Church to require that.

I’m sure even your Lutheran priest will give priority to his own parishioners when it comes to weddings. How would they feel if they were refused a date at their own parish because of outsiders coming in?

 

[Irishgal49]

It’s really not that complicated. If you want to marry outside your parish, all you have to do is find a real priest or deacon who is willing to officiate at the wedding. Then you go see your own Pastor and arrange everything. He does most of the work. You just have to do the preparation course, and, AFAIK, the Catholic Church is not the only Church to require that.

I’m sure even your Lutheran priest will give priority to his own parishioners when it comes to weddings. How would they feel if they were refused a date at their own parish because of outsiders coming in?

I was talking about getting permission to marry, all you have to be is Lutheran and they call and verify you are in good standing and you can marry at any Lutheran Church. I seriously doubt, given the plummeting numbers in the Catholic Church, that there is a line of natives ranting because all the wedding dates are gone. You can do several weddings in a day.

 

[Phemie]

I was talking about getting permission to marry, all you have to be is Lutheran and they call and verify you are in good standing and you can marry at any Lutheran Church. I seriously doubt, given the plummeting numbers in the Catholic Church, that there is a line of natives ranting because all the wedding dates are gone. You can do several weddings in a day.

Depends on whether the couple wants a wedding Mass or not.

Canon law limits a priest to one Mass per day unless they get permission to celebrate twice “for a just cause, or if pastoral necessity requires it, even three times on Sundays and holy days of obligation.”

Not sure tourists wanting to get married, when they could do so in their own parish, would be considered a valid reason for a priest to binate. In my parish the priest will not celebrate the scheduled daily Mass if he celebrates a funeral or nuptial Mass. He has no good reason to do so since in 95% of cases those who attend the weekday Mass routinely attend a wedding or funeral Mass.