Non-religious and Pagan weddings are to finally become law in Ireland under proposed new legislation.
The Irish government is expected to back legislation giving humanists the same status as organised religions and civil registrars in conducting marriage ceremonies.
The Irish Times reports that the proportion of couples choosing a non-religious, civil wedding ceremony in Ireland has increased from six per cent in 1996 to more than 23 per cent in 2006.
Social Protection minister Joan Burton is to ask ministerial colleagues to support the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill.
The paper reports that the legislation was introduced as a Private Members’ Bill by Trinity College Senator Ivana Bacik. It is due to pass final stages in the Upper House of the Irish parliament on Wednesday.
The new legislation proposes to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004, which regulates the registration of civil marriages according to the paper.
It states that the existing 2004 Act stipulates that, apart from Health Service Executive registrars, only a member of a ‘religious body’ may celebrate legal marriages.
A ‘religious body’ is defined as: “An organised group of people, members of which meet regularly for common religious worship.”
The current law includes the Pagan Federation Ireland and the Spiritualist Union of Ireland, both of whom have obtained registration under the Act.
It excludes members of the Humanist Association of Ireland, who currently conduct humanist wedding ceremonies even though these are illegal.
The new bill also proposes to extend the right to conduct civil marriages to nonreligious groups such as the HAI.
Any group of this nature must be a ‘philosophical and non-confessional body’, have been performing marriage ceremonies for at least five years, and at least 20 couples must have participated in the ceremony according to the proposed bill.
HAI spokesman Brian Whiteside told the Irish Times: “In the past, we have been left out in the cold but we persisted in efforts to obtain the right to solemnise marriages and have parity of esteem with religious bodies.
“There had been no real progress until the change of government last year.
“As the law stands presently a couple cannot have a legally binding, nonreligious marriage ceremony on a Saturday, as the State registrars work only Monday to Friday.”
The HAI has nine accredited celebrants who conducted 153 marriage ceremonies last year.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Schlomo | Feb 05, 2013, 08:43 AM EST
Political Correctness is rampant in Ireland. Next thing you know they’ll want to make a group of Irish Caucasians a separate race. OOP's, that's being done already. The Irish travellers are as lily-white Caucasian as their settled brethren so why try to pretend they're a different race? Irish political correctness is an Irish solution to an Irish problem.
KatieMurphy | May 09, 2012, 05:53 PM EDT
Just atnoehr forward step and a slap in the face of the pope who in 2009 UNexcommunicated Bishop Williamson, a holocaust denier.................I have a f rined who was a nun and left the formal church to marry an ex priest..........Finally she admitted she actually left 40 years ago as she could see RATZI moving up in the hierarchy. The man is certifiably mad. HE's been exposed as knowning about and sending letters to Irish and American Bishops telling them to keep quiet about the endless hidden molestation of children......But I wish him a long life and Papacy for he is doing what the western world has been unable to do for a thousand years. - Destroying the vatican. Soon the for sale - bankrupt sign will hang over the vat. gays and mankind in the west will be free..........All the old duffers who want to stick with the church - thats their priveledge, time will cure them.
ciaradexy | May 03, 2012, 01:53 PM EDT
Sondage, pagans weddings are legal but are not state recognised here.
connemaragirl | May 03, 2012, 03:08 AM EDT
Bythebay, Ireland is my Country and you are idiot and speak for your self ,not everyone else in Ireland ,now who is the bigot
sondagefaux | May 02, 2012, 08:06 PM EDT
Some facts: 1. Pagan weddings are ALREADY legal in Ireland. The Pagan Federation of Ireland is one of the religious bodies permitted to carry out state-recognised weddings in Ireland. 2. Non-religious weddings are ALREADY legal in Ireland and have been since before independence. Civil marriages, as they're known, are performed by government officials (registrars)in registry offices. 3. The proposed change to the law will allow non-governmment, non-religious organisations to carry out state-recognised weddings.
aloistmartin | May 02, 2012, 07:04 PM EDT
I. Think any Republican worth his Marx/Engells would agree Separation of Church and State is a necessary Evil. But If this Is just another Bourgeois means of skipping Church on Sunday, I. say into Baptismal with all of you !
Curitiba | May 02, 2012, 06:07 PM EDT
Boudicca, the queen of the Celtic Iceni tribe from Essex, who fought the Romans in AD60, is reputed to be buried under Platform 9 of King's Cross Station in London. How's that for a random pagan-related fact!
bunkerhill | May 02, 2012, 05:55 PM EDT
I think there is the most amazing force for Love in our universe and I don't think anyone can put a finger on it. Why is it that a beautiful baby deprived of oxygen for a minute can be so developementally disabled, but can play the most beautiful music without any training just from memory. How does that happen and where does it come from? Why are "disabled" children so often gifted in art or science? What is in our brains or beings that gifts the "disabled" to such extraordinary, untaught sources? How does one determine that the sun is 93 million miles from Earth or that the world is indeed round and not flat? I believe there is an unbelievable source of love in our universe and none of us have a clue.
Curitiba | May 02, 2012, 05:19 PM EDT
Thinking of painting my face in woad and making one last charge against the Romans in my chariot with the spikes on the wheels...
ciaradexy | May 02, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT
This is great news. Some of us dont believe in christianity. its great to have this as an option now. seanomelb, I agree with your post about Humanism being the way forward. The idea of getting married at Slane or the Hill of Tara where the High Kings made their promises sounds amazing.
Bythebay | May 02, 2012, 12:42 PM EDT
It's wonderful to see Ireland becoming the all-inclusive country the Irish people want.
IrelandNorth | May 02, 2012, 06:48 AM EDT
Modern Ireland is indeed a diverse European country, though not necessarily both states equivalently. (But people should really only speak for themselves, and not countries they consider other!) Pagan weddings are a case of the return of the divine feminine, and the collapse of the profane masculine. Last rights and meeting God are nightmare scenarios inflicted on the feeble-minded to justify orthodoxy, like pleniary indulgences were a lucrative religious entrepreneurship. (NB Rather than judging or being judged, one views the existential 'DVD' of ones past life metaphysically, in the company of a 'Council of Ten' male elders. See book "Embraced By The Light.) But - is an atheistic pro-abortion Irish Senator (of Czech extraction) the right person to be proposing pagan weddings - posing as a humanist?
CaptainCon | May 02, 2012, 06:43 AM EDT
'Give us back our snakes'. It was funny looking at the official government list of approved organisations for 'solemnising' marriages. The Pagan Federation of Ireland was five places above the Roman Catholic Church. It appears now that the state has got into the area of approving registered religions that we have something of a constitutional anomaly. On the same basis that former Minister for Justice Ahern felt moved to regularise the position of 'blasphemy' (the fool) we now have to clear up the preamble and references to 'god almighty' in the constitution. I vote that 'god almighty' should be changed to 'spirits, ghosts, pucas, river deities and supreme beings as unidentified'. Cool or what :)
seanomelb | May 01, 2012, 07:24 PM EDT
"Humanists" the only way to go,to love honour and obey,to help your fellow human without the baggage of religious doctrine or false Gods.
Sharrow | May 01, 2012, 05:05 PM EDT
Ireland has had legal pagan weddings for the last two and half years. This change in legislation will allow for the registering of solemnisers who don't have the sponsorship of a religious group or community, thereby including humanists. "Legal Pagan Marriage With effect from 15th December 2009, the National Coordinator of Pagan Federation Ireland, has been registered on the Register of Solemnisers, under the terms of Section 53(3) of the Civil Registration Act 2004. Consequently, it is now possible to be legally married in a Pagan ceremony in Ireland If you wish to be legally married in a Pagan ceremony, please contact paganfederationireland@gmail.com to discuss the necessary requirements."
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 02:35 PM EDT
connemara girl in the US, look to your own country which needs enormous reforms. What Ireland does has nothing to do with you. Your reek of bigotry.
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT
BrianO, go preach to your American brethern. We don't need it in Ireland.
BrianO | May 01, 2012, 02:00 PM EDT
Once separated from God we become just another animal, when that's the case, steal, rob, and murder, as long as you are the strongest life will be good.
phinsman | May 01, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT
For those who don't believe in God or deities, this should be a legal option in all countries. For those who have very logic oriented brains, they are much less likely to believe in a God or deities or be religious. Belief and religion is a personal choice, not the choice of a government.
connemaragirl | May 01, 2012, 12:31 PM EDT
WT F ?,I guess we are well on our way back to being pagan again , St Patrick is surely turning in his grave ,Thank you Vatican for dethroning Saint Patrick ,for turning a blind eye to pedophile priests,you reap what you sow
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 12:19 PM EDT
It's well past time for Ireland to acknowledge the existence of other religions and lack of religion in its processes. We are part of Europe and are now a very diverse country.
mrkennedy | May 01, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT
Another way for the politicians to raise money and slowly separate from the Catholic Church and its teachings!!! I wonder what their excuse is going to be on their death bed when the last rites are refused and then face God after dying!!
welcaro | May 01, 2012, 11:27 AM EDT
Really, though, aren't they all Pagan Weddings?
ellenfromcork | May 01, 2012, 10:59 AM EDT
I think this is just more of Ireland distancing herself form the stranglehold of the RCC and this can only be a good thing. The "Old Ways" were developed by the people of Ireland, for the people of Ireland and not imposed on us from the outside.
Murph46 | May 01, 2012, 09:46 AM EDT
So,the "Old Ways" have survived the ouster of the RC ,to come back strong! Outstanding Ireland!
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 09:44 AM EDT
The legislation doesn't say anything about "pagan" weddings. What an archaic US term to use!!
beachcomber | May 01, 2012, 09:08 AM EDT
So when will they change the law about married people having to wait five years to obtain a divorce? That seems archaic.