ULC Monastery Press Release
Earlier this week a judge in York County, PA ruled a marriage by one of our ministers invalid.
In response we have prepared the following press release.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Our records show that Adam Johnston was a ULC ordained minister prior to the marriage of Dorie E. Heyer and Jacob T. Hollerbush on the 24th of August, 2006. The brevity of this marriage, as with many others in America, reflects not on the Universal Life Church minister but on the couple. It is inappropriate for Ms. Heyer to blame the failure of her marriage on the ULC administered ceremony.
We have not seen Judge Cook’s decision regarding the authorization of Adam Johnston to perform marriages under Pennsylvania statutes. It is our position that any infringement upon the rights of our ministers is an infringement on the protections of the First Amendment which guarantees:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…”
As such, it is apparent that Judge Cook’s decision is an impermissible attack upon the constitution. Moreover, the Universal Life Church Monastery is prepared to take the following action:
1. Seek Constitutional counsel licensed in the state of Pennsylvania to bring action in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. [42 USC 1985]
2. Name the county officials in their individual and official capacity in a Federal lawsuit for making arbitrary and capricious decisions under the color of law.
3. Seek a declaratory judgment asking that the Federal Judiciary enjoin York County officials and the state of PA from making further decisions as to the legitimacy of one church over another.
G. Martin Freeman, President
Universal Life Church Monastery Storehouse
In response we have prepared the following press release.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Our records show that Adam Johnston was a ULC ordained minister prior to the marriage of Dorie E. Heyer and Jacob T. Hollerbush on the 24th of August, 2006. The brevity of this marriage, as with many others in America, reflects not on the Universal Life Church minister but on the couple. It is inappropriate for Ms. Heyer to blame the failure of her marriage on the ULC administered ceremony.
We have not seen Judge Cook’s decision regarding the authorization of Adam Johnston to perform marriages under Pennsylvania statutes. It is our position that any infringement upon the rights of our ministers is an infringement on the protections of the First Amendment which guarantees:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…”
As such, it is apparent that Judge Cook’s decision is an impermissible attack upon the constitution. Moreover, the Universal Life Church Monastery is prepared to take the following action:
1. Seek Constitutional counsel licensed in the state of Pennsylvania to bring action in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. [42 USC 1985]
2. Name the county officials in their individual and official capacity in a Federal lawsuit for making arbitrary and capricious decisions under the color of law.
3. Seek a declaratory judgment asking that the Federal Judiciary enjoin York County officials and the state of PA from making further decisions as to the legitimacy of one church over another.
G. Martin Freeman, President
Universal Life Church Monastery Storehouse
posted by Br. Benedict at
11:47 AM
8 Comments:
Are there any thoughts or comments at this time on marriage ceremonies performed in other states? I have performed ceremonies in Georgia and California. Is there any reason to believe that these marriages might be considered invalid?
David Cater
how can a minister be invalid ?
is that to say most religions do not count?
Look for me not in bricks and morter but in your heart and throught my farther will you find the kingdom of heaven
The way I understand the PA law is that an online ordained officiant cannot simply perform ceremonies. He/she must have a congregation, among other things. Hopefully the ULC will continue to pursue the legalities of this judgement.
As a ULC Minister, I am not understanding how the Church's validity and establishment can be questioned when it is 47 years old. I am a volunteer chaplain and offer Sunday services in the Community Room of a low-income apartment building for the elderly and disabled where I also reside. First offering holiday services for the Christmas Season of 2005, I didn't begin regular Sunday services until Palm Sunday, 2006, due to a commitment to a theatrical production. Since ordination, I have married 4 couples in Michigan, and will marry another couple on September 29. On the day after my ordination I went to the Secretary of State to register to perform marriages; I was told by the official who waited on me from behind the counter that the only requirement was that I be an ordained minister and sign the marriage license as such. Can we, the clergy of the ULC who really care, that is, organize to defend the Church and it's right to exist and ordain where it is questioned? Perhaps, if we band together, we can force every state to accept us without exception. It wasn't just instant ordination, but standing up to hypocrisy that drew me to the ULC.
For those ULC ministers like myself, who found error, bigotry, and prejudice in many Christian denominations, the Universal Life Church provided a God-send to a faith journey that culminated in renouncing organized religion for it's atrocities. I was ordained in 2003, one year after renouncing the Catholic Faith and ending both my affiliation with Catholicism and the Catholic Seminary. Determined not to let anyone but the Lord "lord it over me," I was intrigued by immediate ordination, inter/multi-faith non-denominationalism, and the freedom to teach and preach as the Spirit of God reveals to me without being dictated to by lecherous, sexually repressed old men in $5000 dresses.
I would now give my life for the ULC; it saved me from a life of regret and despair; I would be proud to serve it in any capacity; and ready to defend all it's ministers whether they are Satanists or Christians like myself. Since I am a Disabled American Veteran, on a disability pension from the Veteran's Administration, if I were to receive a salary for ministerial duties, I would lose a dollar from my pension for every dollar I made. Since I am a resident of the local housing commission in a building for the elderly and disabled, I am proud to offer Sunday Services on a volunteer basis for my fellow neighbors, and happy whether there are 2 one week or 12 the next...
Realizing, of course, that some persons use the ULC for a whim, I wish this weren't the case; but I am FAR more trained for ministry than Jesus or any of His disciples were. A graduate of the U. S. Army Chaplain School, and having attended seminaries both in the United States and Rome, Italy, I am sickened with the thought of having to "surrender" my will over to the hierarchy of some denomination that tells me what I MUST believe and preach. God bless the Universal Life Church, it's founders the Hensley's, it's administrators, and all my fellow ministers whether Christian or Agnostic.
Education of Reverend Michael Ray Meakin, D.D., ULC
Since I have renounced the Catholic faith, I have substituted the English language word that is synonymous with Catholic: (Universal)
Saint John Vianney Seminary, University of Saint Thomas; St. Paul, MN; 1999
Theology: Introduction to (Universal) Tradition 4 Credit Hours A-
The Christian Theological Tradition 4 Credit Hours A
The Old Testament 4 Credit Hours A
The New Testament 4 Credit Hours A-
The Epistles of Paul 4 Credit Hours A-
Christian Literature: Medieval to Modern 4 Credit Hours A-
Philosophy: The Philosophy of Human Person 4 Credit Hours A
Ethics 4 Credit Hours B
Faith and Doubt 4 Credit Hours B-
The (Universal) Vision 4 Credit Hours B+
Other: Critical Reading and Writing I 4 Credit Hours A
Critical Reading and Writing II 4 Credit Hours A-
General Psychology 4 Credit Hours B-
Pastoral Ministry 2 Credit Hours B
Pastoral Ministry Experience in
Hennepin County HOSPICE
Understanding Music in Christian Culture 4 Credit Hours A
Elementary Latin 4 Credit Hours C
Writing in Academic Discourse 4 Credit Hours C+
Writing Poetry & Fiction 4 Credit Hours B+
American History From a Global 4 Credit Hours B+
Perspective
Major: (Universal) Studies Named to Dean’s List 4 of 6 Semesters
St. Meinrad Seminary, St, Meinrad, IN; 2002
Philosophy: Intensive Spiritual Growth 2 Credit Hours A
(Credit through University of St. Thomas; St. Paul, MN)
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas In The City; Rome, Italy; 2002
(Credit through University of St. Thomas; St. Paul, MN)
Theology: Church and Culture in Europe 4 Credit Hours A
(Universal) Classical Literature 4 Credit Hours A-
Christian Democracy: 4 Credit Hours B- Topics in the Politics & Economics of Europe
Philosophy: The History of Medieval Philosophy 4 Credit Hours B
Other: Italian I (2 Credit Hours) RETAKE
Italian I 2 Credit Hours B
Italian II 2 Credit Hours B
Pastoral Ministry Experience No Credit
(Sisters of Mercy Home; Rome, Italy)
Pontifical Seminary, University of St. Gregory The Great; Rome, Italy; 2002
Church Latin No Credit OBSERVER
United States Army Chaplain Center and School; Ft. Monmouth, NJ; 1990
Distinguished Honor Graduate (Grade Point Average 4.0) 358 Hours Total Training
Religious Support 4 Credit Hours A
Pastoral Ministry 4 Credit Hours A
Psychological Support 4 Credit Hours A
Interpersonal Communications 2 Credit Hours A
Fund Accounting 2 Credit Hours A
Communication Skills 2 Credit Hours A
Business Communications 2 Credit Hours A
Jewish Tradition 4 Credit Hours A
Christian Tradition 4 Credit Hours A
Muslim Tradition 4 Credit Hours A
Basic Computer Skills 2 Credit Hours A
Word Processing 2 Credit Hours A
Information Resourcing 2 Credit Hours A
Office Skills 2 Credit Hours A
Physical Conditioning/ Education 1 Credit Hour A
Total: 137 Credit Hours
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 3.391
Ordination: March 10, 2003; Universal Life Church; Modesto, CA
Doctor of Divinity Conferred: (Retroactive to Ordination) September 12, 2007; Universal Life Church Monastery; Seattle, WA.
I was contacted by the County Clerk of Susquehanna County, PA to tell me that my recent marriage, performed by a ULC Minister, may be invalid. I am wondering whether anyone has seen the court ruling? I would like to read it.
From my reading of the constitution, in addition to the question of violation of the 1st amendment's protection of religion, I also wonder if this decision, invalidating marriages performed by someone ordained over the internet, applies to marriages performed before the decision was made?
If so, it seems to be in violation of the 14th Amendment’s due process clause because it changes the legal status of individuals without their participation.
What are our options now? My wife and I could get remarried, I suppose. But we wonder if anyone is organizing a legal challenge. Does anyone know?
Casey Pickett
My husband and I were married on June 30 of this year by a ULC minister in Connecticut. I know the CT laws are somewhat different than in PA - do we have cause to be concerned that we aren't really married under the law? All of our legal paperwork is filed, and considering that the tenets of the church consist basically of doing "that which is right," it would be hard for a good, faithful person (such as our ULC minister) to be considered as not following the tenets of what it means to be a ULC minister. Should we be worried?
Hi Casey,
I'm a reporter for Religion News Service. I'm trying to get a copy of the decision from York County which I'd gladly pass along. Would you consider giving me a call to talk about your situation briefly and what the county clerk said?
thanks,
Dan Burke
I dont understand the unjust actions of the courts against us.
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