In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Judge C Theodore Fritsch Jr. has upheld the right of ministers ordained by the Universal Life Church to officiate weddings. This ruling affirmed the marriage of Jennifer and Jason O’Neil, officiated in 2005 by Jason’s uncle Robert A. Norman, a member of the ULC Monastery.
Fritsch’s ruling is binding only in Bucks County, although the ACLU has won similar victories in recent months in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.“We agree with Judge Fritsch that as long as a religious organization operates under a widely recognized system of beliefs, as the ULC clearly does, the law does not permit the courts to tell that organization who it can and cannot allow to be a minister,” said lawyer Joshua M. Kaplowitz, who represented the O’Neills, both 29, on behalf of the ACLU.
(ES)
This ruling sets a new prescient within Pennsylvania law, and we commend our legal defense team at Davis Wright Tremaine for working in conjunction with the ACLU to bring equality to Pennsylvania marriage law.
“Without a doubt, this was a genuine concern for us,” [Jason O'Neil] said. “We knew there were many areas in which a negative ruling could come back to bite us. We had tax, health insurance and other legal issues, so this is a relief. I hope other couples will see the ruling and feel comforted.”
(PI)
Thank you Jennifer and Jason, for the courage you have shown to the State of Pennsylvania on behalf of Universal Life Church ministers around the world. This victory would not have been possible without you.
- The Evening Sun
- Philadelphia Inquirer
