Atheist Group Wants Right to Perform Marriages in Indiana

Law controls who can solemnize

The Center for Inquiry in a federal court on Monday challenged a state law they say privileges religious institutions in the solemnizing of marriages.

The group strives to offer an ethical alternative to religion based on secular humanism and has trained its members in how to officiate marriages.

"The Center for Inquiry-Indiana has members in Indiana who would like to be married by a person who has completed the secular celebrant program and is therefore authorized by the Center for Inquiry-Indiana to solemnize marriages," the group said in a legal complaint. "Additionally, non-members have requested that secular celebrants perform their weddings because the non-members do not desire to have religious weddings, but wish to have meaningful secular ceremonies."