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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Oregon Legislature. This is a venue for political and policy coverage of the state government in Salem and its impact on the people of Oregon.

Oregon Could Allow Secular Groups To Perform Weddings

Jeffrey Santos Arrogante
/
Flickr

Secular groups could perform weddings under a measure up for a committee vote Monday in the Oregon legislature.

You can go to court to get married in Oregon. But that will set you back over $100 in fees.

The Oregon ACLU says that discriminates against people who are philosophically opposed to religion - people like Cathy Phillips of Lebanon, Oregon, whose daughter is getting married this month.

"Finding an officiant who shares our atheistic beliefs is a challenge sometimes," Phillips said.

So theirs is ordained by an online nondenominational “church.”

The measure being voted on Monday would allow organizations not affiliated with a religion to oversee marriage ceremonies.

A proposed amendment would also allow current or former members of the legislature to perform weddings.