Rant

[celandineb]

I'm not telling anyone what they can and can't like/read/write, first of all. Just to make that plain. Nor am I saying that if you like the following, I think less of you. It's not directed at anyone in particular nor inspired by any specific fics. This is just me being peevish, okay?

Comments

[ms_mindfunk]

Religious leaders are granted the privilege of performing weddings, but they are acting as an agent of the state when they do it. They have to fill out the license and associated paperwork and file it with the county clerk's office, for example. In some jurisdictions they must be licensed by the state as a minister, or legally ordained by their denomination in order to perform weddings. Weddings aren't legal if those requirements aren't met, or if the officiant doesn't file the paperwork by the dealine set by the jurisdiction, regardless of the religious laws or customs that may have been performed.

Some states have laws that allow non-clergy to apply for authority to perform marriage ceremonies. For example, California law permits anyone to apply for permission to become a Deputy Commissioner of Marriages for the day. There are also entities like the Universal Life Church that legally ordain anyone who has a few bucks regardless of their religious beliefs, or lack thereof. Then there are weddings performed by judges, JPs or court clerks, which are just as legal as those performed by clergy. So, really marriage is not a religious act at all unless the couple chooses for it to be so.