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Posts tagged ‘ULC’

 

State of Tennessee Settles Lawsuit with Universal Life Church

The Universal Life Church recently won its lawsuit against Tennessee over a law barring its ministers from officiating weddings.

December 19th, 2023

After the Tennessee state legislature passed a law explicitly barring ministers who were ordained online from solemnizing legal marriages in 2019, the Universal Life Church (ULC) immediately filed suit and were successful in obtaining a restraining order blocking the law from taking effect. In August of 2023, the ULC began the trial against the Tennessee Read More


Threat of Litigation Causes California Officials to Renege Ruling Against Universal Life Church Minister

Robert Seals: Universal Life Church minister and founder of the Chico Goddess Temple

November 6th, 2012

Universal Life Church minister closer to receiving land use permit for his Chico, Calif. temple Robert Seals, a Universal Life Church minister and owner of the Chico Goddess Temple, has forced the Butte County Board of Supervisors to renege their 3-2 ruling that the religious center should not be allowed to host weddings, retreats, concerts, Read More


ULC Court Cases: South Carolina Attorney General Opinions

ULC ordination legal in South Carolina

November 5th, 2012

Introduction: Legal Precedent Important for Universal Life Church Ministers Laws that govern who are able to perform legally-recognized marriages are highly subjective and difficult to interpret; even government officials within the same county clerk’s office can have many interpretations of the implications of a single law. In situations where laws are hard to interpret, like Read More


ULC Court Cases: Universal Life Church v. State of Utah

Universal Life Church and the State of Utah

October 31st, 2012

Case Background In 2001, the State of Utah passed legislation known as the Internet Statute that voided any ministerial certification or ordination that was obtained by an individual through the mail or internet. The legislation supported the Marriage Solemnization Statute which stated that the only individuals legally allowed to solemnize marriages were rabbis, priests or Read More


ULC Court Cases: 1978 Kentucky Attorney General Opinion

Ordained ministers who get ordained with the ULC can perform weddings in Kentucky

October 23rd, 2012

Remember that the attorney general opinion listed below refers to the ULC of Modesto, CA and NOT the ULC Monastery, but that the opinion is equally applicable to both organizations as well as all other branches of the ULC. Emphasis in the below text is added. Attorney General Opinion Background [Unknown, though Mr. Johnson presumably Read More


ULC Court Cases: 2002 Texas Attorney General Opinion

Texas ULC ordained ministers can become psychologists without getting licensed

October 22nd, 2012

Remember that the attorney general opinion listed below refers to the ULC of Modesto, CA and NOT the ULC Monastery, but that the opinion is equally applicable to both organizations as well as all other branches of the ULC. Emphasis in the below text is added. Attorney General Opinion Background [Unknown, though Mrs. Lee presumably Read More


How to Change Your Name

Social Security card and government documentation

October 12th, 2012

Introduction to the ULC Name Change Guide The Universal Life Church Monastery ordains more ministers than any other online church. This is mostly due to the fact that the ULC encourages people of all religious beliefs (and even some people that are not religious) to become ordained ministers online through them. Due to their mission Read More


Legal Basis for Non Denominational Ordination Parity

Sikh man with non denominational ordination from the ULC

October 10th, 2012

Non Denominational Ordinations are Different but the Same The Universal Life Church’s non denominational ordination is fundamentally different from the ordinations issued by the Catholic, Lutheran and Baptist churches in that they allow those who hold them to adhere to the practices and beliefs of many different religions. A ULC minister is thus able to Read More


ULC Court Cases: Ranieri v. Ranieri

ULC Court Cases: Ranieri v. Ranieri

September 24th, 2012

Case Background Rocco J. Ranieri appealed the decision of a Suffolk County, New York court to award Rae B. Ranieri with $500 in pendente lite relief, which is an alimony amount awarded before divorce proceedings have ended to a party in need of financial support, on December 18 1987. Rocco Ranieri was also ordered to Read More


ULC Court Cases: Universal Life Church v. USA (1974)

ULC Court Cases: Universal Life Church v. USA (1974)

September 6th, 2012

Please note: this court case pertains to the ULC of Modesto, CA and not the Universal Life Church Monastery of Seattle, WA. The latter’s has never had issues with the IRS or any government agency over taxes. Case Background In the case of the Universal Life Church v. The United States of America, the Universal Read More