Secular Group Fails to Revive Challenge to Texas Officiant Law

The Center for Inquiry Inc. and one of its members lack standing to litigate a constitutional challenge to a Texas law that only allows religious leaders and judges to officiate marriages in the state, the Fifth Circuit said Tuesday.

Eric McCutchan “has failed to establish a serious intent to violate” the law, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said in an unpublished opinion, upholding a district court’s dismissal of the suit.

McCutchan alleged he wants to conduct marriages as a secular celebrant in Texas and that Texas couples have requested that he conduct their weddings. But ...