Case Background In the matter of the court case Anthony Rubino et al, vs. the City of New York, argued on June 8, 1984, a group of ministers ordained by the Universal Life Church petitioned the New York County Supreme Court to allow them the right to perform marriage rites. The petitioning ministers believed that Read More

Case Background Summary: The Superior Court of North Carolina convicted James Roberts Lynch of bigamy. He appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals, but the decision stood. Lynch then took his appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court. The decision was reversed when it was found that his first marriage was solemnized by someone who Read More

Case Background This case concerned Jason B. O’Neill and Jennifer R. O’Neill as they submitted to the Court of Common Please of Bucks County, PA for a decision regarding the validity of their marriage. They had been married by a minister who was ordained by the Universal Life Church. The court had to decide whether Read More

Case Background In 1974 a group of ministers ordained by the Universal Life Church had their rights to conduct marriage ceremonies taken away by the Circuit Court of Richmond, VA. This group of ministers, named under M.A. Cramer in the case, appealed the decision in the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to rule that any Read More

It is now possible for Universal Life Church Monastery ministers to perform wedding ceremonies in Erie County, NY without registering as a wedding officiant there. This development occurred thanks to efforts taken by the ULC staff to correct a misunderstanding made by the Erie County clerk’s office. The crux of this misunderstanding was centered around Read More

The Laws and Debate Surrounding Bigamy The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Law and Reynolds v The United States of America Though the debate surrounding marriage is between is contentious however, the idea that it is a practice for two people, and only two people is unquestionably entrenched into the institution. Bigamy, bi- meaning two and -gamy meaning Read More

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is the current law at the Federal level which governs over the institution of marriage. Full Legal Text of the Defense of Marriage Act: History/Background: In 1996, under the Clinton administration, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act. In section III, this act explicitly defines marriage as a legal Read More

Hello readers! Please check back regularly, as we plan on posting at least once a week to provide new information about State and Federal laws and regulations relating to the Universal Life Church and its ministers as well as information about lawsuits concerning religion freedom. We hope you enjoy the blog and ask you to Read More