Pennsylvania Update


Brother Kevin
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Owner

For some time now, various clerks in Pennsylvania have been trying to obstruct ULC ministers from officiating marriage. They have sent out warning letters to couples who apply for marriage licenses, which they have carefully worded so that they don't actually state any facts but still tend to scare folks.

The ACLU has taken up the cause and has filed suit in three different counties. Rev. Frank Palumbo, who has some powerful political connections in his network, has also been working to bring about changes to the way things are done in Pennsylvania, and to prevent further erosion of religious freedom.

A judge in one of the Pennsyvlania counties has issued a ruling in favor of religious freedom, declaring valid a 2005 marriage that was officiated by a ULC minister.

News report on the above ruling

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jan. 2, 2009 Judge upholds marriage by online minister, Doylestown (AP) A Bucks County judge has upheld the legality of a marriage performed by a Universal Life Church minister, the latest ruling on whether marriages performed by clergy without a regular congregation are valid under Pennsylvania Law. Bucks County Judge C. Theodore Fritsch Jr. declared the 2005 marriage of Jason and Jennifer O'Neill valid, even though the minister- the groom's uncle- had been ordained in a matter of minutes after completing a short Universal Life form online. The test case is one of at least three filed across the state by the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to clarify the type of clergy recognized under the Pennsylvania Marriage Act. A York County judge ruled last year that a minister must have a regular congregation or houseworship and and that marriages performed by anyone else was invalid. That case also included a Universal Life Minister. Fritsch's ruling is binding only in Bucks County, although the ACLU has won similar victories in recent months in Montgomery and Philadelphia

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For some time now, various clerks in Pennsylvania have been trying to obstruct ULC ministers from officiating marriage. They have sent out warning letters to couples who apply for marriage licenses, which they have carefully worded so that they don't actually state any facts but still tend to scare folks.

The ACLU has taken up the cause and has filed suit in three different counties. Rev. Frank Palumbo, who has some powerful political connections in his network, has also been working to bring about changes to the way things are done in Pennsylvania, and to prevent further erosion of religious freedom.

A judge in one of the Pennsyvlania counties has issued a ruling in favor of religious freedom, declaring valid a 2005 marriage that was officiated by a ULC minister.

News report on the above ruling

I am glad that the ULC is becoming legal in Pennsylvania, and that this is bringing psoitive news for the ULC as a whole.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share