REGARDING STATE OF MINNESOTA NEW MARRIAGE LAWS
AN EMAIL
To the Honorable Ingebrightsen and Otremba,
I am writing this email in concern to Minnesota Statue 517.04 which currently reads : Marriages may be solemnized throughout the state by an individual who has attained the age of 21 years and is a judge of a court of record, a retired judge of a court of record, a court administrator, a retired court administrator with the approval of the chief judge of the judicial district, a former court commissioner who is employed by the court system or is acting pursuant to an order of the chief judge of the commissioner's judicial district, the residential school administrators of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, a licensed or ordained minister of any religious denomination, or by any mode recognized in section 517.18.
The law as it currently stands, an be interpreted as you need to be the age of 21 and a minister, in order to solemnize marriages. This would mean any minister between the age of 18 and 21 would not be able to perform such duty. Which is part of their religious duties and rights. Thus it raises a concern to me as to the Constitutionality of such in regards to religious rights, both within the State's and United State's Constitutions. And I quote them both as follows:
Minnesota State Constitution ARTICLE I BILL OF RIGHTS Sec. 16. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE; NO PREFERENCE TO BE GIVEN TO ANY RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT OR MODE OF WORSHIP: The enumeration of rights in this constitution shall not deny or impair others retained by and inherent in the people. The right of every man to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience shall never be infringed; nor shall any man be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any religious or ecclesiastical ministry, against his consent; nor shall any control of or interference with the rights of conscience be permitted, or any preference be given by law to any religious establishment or mode of worship; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the state, nor shall any money be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of any religious societies or religious or theological seminaries.
United States Constitution Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
and
Amendment XIV: Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Which Amendment XIV under interpretation of the United Sates Supreme Court protects the rights of Amendment I, from state infringement.
With that being said, I am kindly requesting that my State Legislative Branch, immediately investigate Statue 517.04 as it is written and properly change it to coincide with Constitutionally protected rights of ministers over the age of 18. And a reply to such request be answered post haste.
Sincerely,
Rev. Matthew L Koscielski ThD
Founder / Chairman
Church of Learning Ministries
102 1st Ave NE
Bertha, Mn 56437
218-924-4909
Church of Learning
One Love Wedding Ministry
Foundation for Religious Freedom and Tolerance
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