Atheist group sues Indiana over marriage statute

An atheist organization claims Indiana’s marriage statute is unconstitutional because it doesn't allow nonbelievers to be married by their own leaders, but state officials say the group is divorced from reality.

The New York-based Center for Inquiry claims in a federal lawsuit that Indiana Code 31-11-6-1 violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment since it sets clear preference for religious individuals over those devoted to the “pursuit of ethical alternatives to religion.” The group says it filed suit on behalf of members John Kiel and Michelle Landrum, who plan to wed in the next six months.

“You can have a ceremony as a nonreligious person and have the marriage solemnized by someone in the government, but the issue is that a person of faith can have a leader of their world view solemnize that marriage that the nonreligious do not have,” said Paul Fidalgo, communications director for The Center for Inquiry. “They are looking to win that right, to have it solemnized. That’s the key word.”

Continue reading at www.foxnews.com

Wordman

Just another one of many attempts to erode the Biblical foundations of our republic. Atheists can have anyone they want preside over their marriage ceremonies. What does it matter who signs the certificate?
pcsrocky

If they don't believe in God, why do they want it "solemnized"? Doesn't solemnizing an event tie it to a higher being or power which they seem not to believe in? This makes no sense. The ONLY winners will be the lawyers, laughing all the way to the bank!
JDH

Just another example of why atheists are idiots. Marraige is essentialy a religious instittion that the government has decided to make money off of. Any thing else is a civil union and who cares what the state does?
http://www.facebook.com/kurt.cook.14 Kurt Cook

I'm confused. Are the atheist asking for their own clergy now?
- fliteking
  
  Great point.
KentPerry

Atheist's and their allies the militant Homosexuals, never cease to amaze me the depths of their utter stupidity, I mean have YOU ever head a more I-D-I-O-T-C argument than this one coming from the Philosopher Kings of Infallible Science and their butt loving colleagues.

These are the people who think WE Christians are going to take science back to the stone age. Here they are trying to extort Gods approval out of us by proxy, this God they say doesn't exist and isn't important. I would make a deal with them, in exchange for what they are asking for but I don't think they would agree to the terms,.
bigbadude

maybe the Muslims should sue over the right to murder people? maybe the people who sexualy abuse animals should sue over their rights? ACLU need to be recognised as the communist simpathisers,
draft dogers, God hatting, whinny cry babies and should be ignored by everyone!
they are the reason this country is in the shape it is in!
Patrick

Solemn= formal, grave, serious. When a marriage ceremony is conducted, with vows exchanged before God, it is, therefore, "formal, grave, and serious". However, if this couple can find a substitute, then it is up to THEM, not the state to do so. Please, leave our tax dollars alone!