Humanists win right to solemnize their own weddings in Indiana

(RNS) A federal court has ruled that humanist couples in Indiana can be married by their own “secular celebrants,” something that until now was illegal under state law.

In a unanimous ruling, the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said denying humanists the right to be married by celebrants who share their lack of belief in a deity is a denial of their First Amendment rights to freedom of religion.

Under a law dating to the 1850s, Indiana required marriages be conducted by religious clergy or government officials. The humanist plaintiffs argued this denied them the right to be married by celebrants who share their philosophy and gave preferential treatment to religious people.


http://www.religionnews.com/2014/07/14/humanists-win-right-solemnize-weddings-indiana/


Blimey, I did not know this was illegal, glad this has been changed

Good news

 

"Marriage celebrants" have been available in Australian states for longer than I can remember.

I was a guest at so-called "secular" weddings back in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s..