Marriage Laws in different states

[Rev. Ed C]

Well, my feelings on the matter (as a man who's on the road to marriage sometime in the next few years) is that we're fine with a legal registrar doing a non-religious marriage for the sake of the law.  That satisfies the government, and we can add anything else to satisfy us on top.  I mean, as far as we're concerned we're already married, save for the legal recognition of a government we don't really respect of have much contact with, marriage is a state of mind and a state of being, a legally recognised marriage is the issue here, and as long as some bureaucrat gets the right piece of paper signed, he's happy, and we can satisfy ourselves there afterwards with an ceremony around it we see fit.

So a Dudeist priest can't do a ceremony without a registrar present?  Eh, it's no biggie.  If you're into a legally recognised marriage you have to accept the law will get involved, otherwise just get an unlawful ceremony and be happily married under common-law, that's what I say!

[meekon5]

....So a Dudeist priest can't do a ceremony without a registrar present?...

Actually I believe you can have a blessing anywhere you want, the registrar doesn't "need" to be there.

Recent changes in the law have permitted other places than registry offices and churches, for the legal ceremony, but I believe you could have the legal bit done then piss off and do what ever you really wanted, as long as the health and safety (health and hygiene, public liability, performing rights act, etc) regs are adhered to.

(PS applies to UK only, sorry chaps, but I suppose it could apply to other countries.)

Of course in the US you could use these nice people's resources.

I was originally ordained by them quite a few years ago, and a lot of my American Pagan contacts at the time used them for similar purposes (the ability to have Pagan Weddings, etc).

Plus they have some good details on what you can and can't do in which states.

[Dude1967]

If the CT law states that you have to be "Active in the ministry", how can they prove that you are not?  I would challenge their interpretation of "Active", get your copy of the Dude De Ching, and read it to the city clerk, there you go: "Active in the ministry"!  After all, you are actively preaching and therefore "active in the ministry".  Am I wrong?

[ispamforfood]

you're not "wrong" in the sense that the very phrase "active in the ministry" is very poorly defined... Thus is up for debate.  The only way to really settle it is for either the state to amend the law to be more strict (or more lenient) or you find a really good 1st amendment lawyer and take your case to the state supreme court.  It would certainly be cheaper to just lobby your congressmen to get them to consider a better definition of "active in the ministry"

[Rev. Gary (revgms)]

Doesn't a letter of good standing cover that? Donno, just asking.

I read somewhere here that instead of Parishes, or Diocese, we should call Dudeist congregations, leagues, and smaller groups teams, that was a neat idea. (derailed train of thought there)

How can one be active in a belief system that preaches low activity?

Is doing a J regularly active? Like the Rastas, Ethiopian Coptics and Hindus with their Bahng

[Abideist]

Here's a good list to start (http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/officiants_requirements/index.shtml), but I think we should maybe have a sticky or something in this forum on these issues.


Florida
All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel in communion with some church may perform marriages. --- Ministers must complete a certificate of marriage on the marriage license and return it to the office from which it was issued. --- For questions see the county clerk.

Groovey. Seems like I'll be cool to start marriage-izing any time.

[TurboKittie]

So it looks like I can't officiate in my home state of Missouri, due to the wording of the law

Missouri
Marriages may be performed by any clergyman who is a citizen of the United States and who is in good standing with any church or synagogue in this state. --- Ministers must keep a record of all marriages they perform. They must give the couple a marriage certificate and must complete the marriage license and return it to the recorder of deeds within 90 days after the marriage license was issued. --- For questions see the recorder of deeds.

But I may be able to hop the river into Illinois with my letter of good standing

Illinois
Marriages may be performed by ministers of the gospel in regular standing in the church or society to which they belong. --- The marriage license and certificate must be completed by the minister and returned to the county clerk within 30 days after the marriage. --- For questions see the county clerk.

Good to know!

[Caesar dude]

Good to see you here Turbokittie any rug.....etc...yep just hop along to the next state..just hop along and fuck the human paraquats that officiate in your state...

Gosh I do believe I'm rambling...probably the amount of oat sodas I've consumed.....

[Caesar dude]

.yep just hop along to the next state..just hop along and fuck the human paraquats that officiate in your state...

I meant to add in the ass.

On re reading my post it means something else entirely....so sorry not my intention.   

[DigitalBuddha]

How can one be active in a belief system that preaches low activity?

There are lots of ways, dude; snag a burger at the local In and Out, Bowl, zesty coitus, burning a J, driving around listening to Creedence, rug dancing, making a White Russian,  giving notes, but most important, just being yourself and abiding.

[not_exactly_a_lightweight]

Whats the big deal with marriage anyways? My first marriage was over-raided.
She got the gold mine, I got the shaft.

[DigitalBuddha]

At least it's an Ethos, dude...............

[pirate]

In India, the Swastika is used in two forms, one with the arms moving to the right, the right-handed Swastika, and the other with the arms moving to the left, the so-called "left-handed" occult Swastika. It is commonly thought that the Nazis used the left-handed Swastika and that this is the difference between the Hindu's use of the Swastika and the Nazi's use of it. But this is not the case. In fact, the Nazis used the same right-handed Swastika that is used in modern Hinduism, but gave it a 45 degree turn. This gives it the appearance of being left-handed, even though it is not. Regardless, in India many groups have used the left-handed Swastika. One common example amongst Hindu groups is the Theosophical Society, which used it on their logo. The left-handed Swastika is also associated with esoteric tantric practices. Jains and Buddhists often use the left handed Swastika as well. Today the right-handed Swastika is mainly used in Hindu temples, homes and sacred ceremonies as a symbol or affirmation of good luck, health and prosperity. A "yes" to life!

At least it's an Ethos, dude...............

[meekon5]

At least it's an Ethos, dude...............

Just a small point.

The Swastika is actually an ancient symbol of good, credited with Juggernaut the Hindu god of thunder, it is frequently used (by Hindu's).

It is only recently (since the 1900's) that the Nazis (and Facists) took the symbol and corrupted it's common meaning. The word Juggernaut itself has come to mean someone or something that destroys anything in it's path, which is why the Nazis probably took the symbol in the first place.

But here the symbol is being used in it's ancient and correct way as an invocation to Juggernaut to protect the establishment.

when the Golden Temple at Amritsar was desecrated there were pictures of a broken door with a swastika on the wall behind, these were also misinterpreted because it is the Hindu's and The Sikhs who fight over who should own and run the place and the swastika was painted by the Hindu's as a protection, not a racial statement.

see also http://reclaimtheswastika.com/photos/

[DigitalBuddha]

True, M5, the nazis stole the symbol and turned it on it's side. Fucking nazis, nothing ever changes.