Merrywives’ Blog

In light of the upcoming bigamy trial of Wendell Nielsen, we thought it appropriate to publish this document from the ACLU given in September 2006:

Utah’s Bigamy Statute and the Right to Privacy and Religious Freedom

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees all Americans the right to associate, express opinions, and practice religion free from unnecessary government intrusion. Additionally, the United States Supreme Court recognizes that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment promises individuals that, “there is a realm of personal liberty which the government may not enter.” Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833, 847 (1992). Together, these freedoms allow individuals to define the contours of their personal relationships and freely express their religious beliefs, as long as they do not harm the state or other persons. The ACLU of Utah believes that Utah’s bigamy statute, which criminalizes the practice of spiritual plural marriage between consenting adults, violates these constitutional guarantees.
For the rest of the publication, go here…