Atheist Group Sues Minnesota County Over Right to Perform Weddings

An atheist group recently filed a lawsuit against Washington County, Minnesota after one of its members was reportedly refused permission to solemnize marriages.

Rodney Michael Rogers of Atheists for Human Rights filed a lawsuit against Washington County, arguing that the county discriminated against them for their atheism after they were refused permission to solemnize marriages.

"When the statute clearly permits recognition of a marriage celebrant whose religious credentials consist of nothing more than a $20 'ordination' obtained from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster […] the requirement is absolutely meaningless in terms of ensuring the qualifications of a marriage celebrant," an attorney wrote to the county on behalf of the atheist organization, according to the Star Tribune.

According to the Minnesota Public Radio News, when Rogers requested a certificate of ordination in September, he was told "he could not be issued credentials to solemnize marriages because the clerks had been instructed not to accept applications from any atheist or humanist organizations."

The atheist group is now suggesting on its website that the state's law on marriage ordination must be changed, rather than the county's law. The group wrote in an "update" section on its website that it will pursue a change to legislation following the upcoming November elections.

"We have to wait until the November elections are over before we proceed with legislation to amend the Minnesota marriage statutes to include celebrants other than court personnel and clergy. Much depends on who will be assigned to committees the bill must go through," the statement read.