Universal Life Church Withdraws Lawsuit Against Bucks County

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Universal Life Church has voluntarily withdrawn a lawsuit against Bucks County alleging that one of its ministers was refused the right to perform a wedding ceremony.

The church filed the lawsuit Feb. 16 and asked for an injunction against the Bucks County Clerk that would prohibit them from discriminating against its ministers. They alleged that one of its ministers was told by a county official that he could not practice his religion and perform a legal wedding ceremony because of the source of his ordination.

Following news of the lawsuit, Bucks County Register of Wills Linda Bobrin said she opposed it and issued a statement saying her office has "long accepted and will continue to accept marriages performed by persons ordinated via the internet."

The ULC, which is known for providing religious ordinations over the internet, filed a notice of voluntary dismissal March 15.

"The Clerk appreciates that the ULC has voluntarily withdrawn their lawsuit when their misunderstanding concerning the policies of Bucks County in fully recognizing the validity of marriages officiated by ULC ministers was made clear to them," Bobrin said in a statement issued Saturday.

The clerk's office has remained open during the pandemic and has offered both traditional marriage licenses with an officiant as well as self-uniting licenses with no officiant required, Bobrin said.

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