Re: [Mid] holy government recognition

Illinois appears to be pretty lax. Refer to 750 ILCS 5, Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Section 209 covers those who may legally solemnize a marriage, and includes, among others, "(a),,, a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, or in accordance with the prescriptions of any religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, provided that when such prescriptions require an officiant, the officiant be in good standing with his religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group."

Oh, and even if somehow, somewhere your authority came into question later, there is a nice little out in this... "(b) The solemnization of the marriage is not invalidated by the fact that the person solemnizing the marriage was not legally qualified to solemnize it, if either party to the marriage believed him to be so qualified."

I hope this is helpful,
Bran

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Jonathan Thorn
  To: sca-middle@midrealm.org
  Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 6:45 AM
  Subject: [Mid] holy government recognition

    Yes, but as an ordained minister from ULC I know that ULC had to fight in court for it's right to be accepted by the government as a legally approved religious group so that it could ordain its minsiters as it chooses, as well as receive its tax exempt status. And even then, many states do not want to accept the ordination of said ministers from ULC and many have tried, dragging people through court, to stop them from "practicing" and delcaring any wedding, funeral, etc. etc. that they've handled non valid, non legal.

     It is something that I'm currently in contact with Illinois and ULC on, as I normally do not use my reverend abilities, but my best friend and his fiance has just informed me that they are agnostic, want more than just a thirty minute judge wedding, don't want a religious leader with deities intact, and instead of being best man would I mind marrying them. ?!?!?!?! Wow. And most states, even though we have the letter from the "head church" still want the name of my local church and all the names of its members before they will legally allow me to marry anyone despite my ordination.

      So, I still pretty much stand on, yes, our government does (try to) rule on recognizing religions.

  Kenneth Ulric Amhranai tan Briongloid, C.W.
  The Shard Bard
  "In pace, in celebratio, in proelio, in mortuo, canto"

From: "Brian D. Murphy" <bmurphy@advant.com>
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Received on Wed Jan 2 03:00:05 2002