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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

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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.