Holy Crap! Is this legal?

[Obviousman]

This website: http://ulc.org/ claims to be able to ordain anyone a minister, and then you can perform legally binding marriages. My question to any DU lawyers lurking around it, Does this really work?

[smbolisnch]

1. That must be how the ex boyfriend

from Meet the Fockers got ordained :P

[Fiona]

2. yes it's legal

[asthmaticeog]

25. All right!

I'm gonna get ordained and marry some homos in Ohio!

[nankerphelge]

3. I would think it depends on state law.

[Az]

4. Been around for a long time

I think I even got ordained sometime ago as a Guru. Been a long time though so I don't recall.

[Lex]

5. Unless you've obtained a valid marriage license

from the county clerk then the 'minister' can waive his magic fairy dust on you all he wants and you're not married.

[NightTrain]

6. They ordained me in March 2003.

That's right, y'all. I am the Reverend NightTrain!

[Obviousman]

7. lol

wow, this seems so bizare

[NightTrain]

8. All you need to be legally married is the license.

There's no legal requirement that a minister perform the ceremony. After all, don't lots of couples get married by justices of the peace?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

38. Exactly right, NightTrain

All marriage is, legally, is a contract between the couple and the State/Commonwealth.

So, what's the big deal with these church folks trying to tell us who can and can't marry, hmmmm?

Hint: if you don't think gays should marry, don't marry one.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

39. You think THAT's bizarre?

In Virginia, where I hold a law license, I am legally certiified to perform marriages, simply because I'm a licensed lawyer.

That's bizarre, my friend.

[BlueJazz]

18. hallelujah !! ...How much money do you want me to send you?

I've only got $300,000 but it's all yours...Reverand...

[Acryliccalico]

9. Everyone on DU needs to go and get ordained, NOW

[Acryliccalico]

10. At least we will have a fighting oportunity

It doesn't matter what we get ordained as does it?

[Obviousman]

13. LOL A bunch of DUers performing

gay marriages. Wouldn't that steam the Freepers?

[unblock]

11. it varies by state

in new jersey, to be married, there has to be an "officiant" named on the form. the officiant can't be just anybody. basically, it has to be either (a) a judge or (b) a minister/priest/rabbi/etc. or (c) someone who a judge has granted one-day marrying privileges (typically reserved for governors and retired judges and the like).

mrs. unblock and i had a ceremony performed by my father, who is not ordained. he's co-offiated weddings before, so he knew the drill and was very good at it, and he did a great job. but he wasn't legally able to sign the license. so we had to have that taken care of separately. my father could have done this internet chruch thing just for the legal requirement, but he wouldn't go for it.

[Obviousman]

12. Interesting

how the religious and political requirements differ

[johnnie]

14. Yeah, it's legal

I was going to do it just to add to my resume' of life.

[meisje]

15. I want to be able to HEAL people

You have been HHHHHHHHHEEEEAALLLLDDDDD!!!!! Praise Jebus

[TheMightyFavog]

16. Ordained September, 2004.

However in oreder to marry people in Wisconsin, I have to pony up ten bucks to have an "official" set of credentials mailed to me so I can have them filed with the county clerk.

[Obviousman]

17. Everything has a catch doesn't it?

[BlueJazz]

19. I just did it. Send me money...lots of money...Now...

:)

[LibDemAlways]

20. I went to a wedding in August

of an old friend from high school. The ceremony was performed by another classmate who was "ordained" over the internet just so he could officiate. His own wedding, two years earlier, was performed by his new wife's daughter, who had been similarly "ordained." This is apparently legal in CA.

[tyedyeto]

21. I got married in 1976 (since divorced) by a ..........

Universal Life Minister in Calif. At that time they were recognized by the state of Calif.
We drove a friend of ours to Modesto where he paid the ULC $5 to become an ordained minister and he is the one who married us. BTW, the marriage lasted til the year 2000 and we have 2 great kids (now both in their 20's).
I was not then and am still not a go-to meetin' on Sunday's type of religious person and felt at the time it was so much better to have a good friend marry us than be hypocritical to any organized religion and have a 'certified' pastor type marry us.

[tyedyeto]

22. Also from what I recall..........

the ULC started as more of a tax issue.

The 'have a sermon in your house and ya get a tax break' mentality.

[Reverend_Smitty]

23. How do you think I got the name "Reverend Smitty"?

I'm a minister through ULC but I have yet to preform any services, but if anyone is in the New Jersey-tri state area and wants to get hitched, my services come pretty cheap. 20 bucks and a slice of the wedding cake!

[Obviousman]

30. LOL

All this time, and I never knew...

[ironflange]

24. Hell, I've been a ULC minister for at least 15 years

Did it back in the halcyon days of low-speed BBSing. Haven't had to use my credentials much, though, and I didn't even send the five bucks it cost to get an actual title. I did think about becoming an Archpriest, however. I still like the sound of that.

[Blue-Jay]

26. Huh. I think I might do this!

"The Right Reverend Blue-jay" has a certain ring to it.

[prolesunited]

27. Sure does

Can you marry yourself? I mean, perform your own wedding ceremony?

[Blue-Jay]

28. Nah. I just want a groovy plaque to go on the wall.

[Buns_of_Fire]

29. Don't forget to order some Anointing Oil while you're there

(1/4 oz. -- $9.99) In a pinch, though, Crisco will do and might even get you anointed appointed Attorney General! O8)

[tsakshaug]

31. I'm ordained

Have been for about a year. Might do a wedding next year

[AngryAmish]

32. 1st Amendment, little buddy

[DS1]

33. I'm an ordained ULC Minister and I don't like the tone of your question

:P

[Obviousman]

34. Well Reverend, I ask for your forgiveness

:P

[progressoid]

35. SURE!! I became ordained a few years ago. Nothin to it!

[Child_Of_Isis]

36. Same here n/t

[OldLeftieLawyer]

37. Yeah, it's legal

But the minute you start writing off every breath you take on your income tax, you're gonna be in some very hot water.

[Obviousman]

40. I see

This is like an onion, the more layers you peel, the more it stinks.