Thursday, January 27, 2022

Universal Life Church Can Move Ahead With Suit On Marriage Solemnization Right

In Universal Life Church Monastery Storehouse v. McGeever, (WD PA, Jan. 25, 2022), a Pennsylvania federal district court refused to dismiss a suit against Allegheny County, Pennsylvania court officials who refuse to allow Universal Life Church ministers to solemnize marriages. the court said in part:

[A[ live case or controversy exists. Universal has alleged that its ministers are being singled out as “illegitimate” and unworthy of solemnizing marriages in the Commonwealth. According to Universal, this “singling out” has chilled the exercise of its ministers’ First Amendment rights. This harm is ongoing and exists whether Defendants’ offices, in fact, refuse to issue licenses for marriages performed by Universal’s ministers.