Pastafarians, rejoice! New Zealand has now granted the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster the legal right to perform marriage ceremonies — and just in time for ChriFSMas!

…The Church of FSM came into its own in 2005 as a response to the proposal that the fundamentalist Christian theory of Intelligent Design be taught alongside evolution and natural selection in Kansas public schools. Adherents to the church, known as “Pastafarians,” are sometimes seen sporting their religious head coverings — colanders — in passport and official identification photos from countries around the world. While many insist that the Church of FSM cannot possibly be a serious institution, the church’s official website offers this rebuttal:

“The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, after having existed in secrecy for hundreds of years, came into the mainstream just a few years…Some claim that the church is purely a thought experiment or satire, illustrating that Intelligent Design is not a science, just a pseudoscience manufactured by Christians to push Creationism into public schools. These people are mistaken — The Church of FSM is legit, and backed by hard science. Anything that comes across as humor or satire is purely coincidental.”

New Zealand Registrar-General, Jeff Montgomery, explained the decision to grant Pastafarians the right to officiate marriages to stuff.co.nz:

“In considering the matter, I have referred to the Objects of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, reviewed material available online about this organization and considered other organizations already being able to nominate marriage celebrants.

“A review of media and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s international website show a consistent presentation of their philosophies. While some claim this is a ‘parody organization,’ members have rebutted this on a number of occasions.

“As registrar-general, it is my role to apply relevant legislation . . .”

Congratulations to Pastafarians everywhere!



  1. Silenus says:

    As a Universal Life Church minister since 1968, with Pastafarian leanings, I think the good ol’ US of A is still the leader in the religious freedom department. Here the government does not grant any rights to religion, it just asserts that they have the right to practice their faith. The first marriage I performed was in 1968. I called the Seattle county offices and asked if I had to register as a minister, or something. They said all I had to do was be right with my church.

    About 10 years ago, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas state comptroller, refused to allow Unitarian and Ethical Culture churches to register as nonprofit organizations. Her reason was, among other things, that those churches didn’t have a supreme being. She was forced to change her mind quickly.

    http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2004-05-28/212983/

    I was sorry it ended so fast. I was going to ask to register a church in Texas called the Church of Strayhorn. She would be the supreme being and the best part is that the faithful would be called strayhornies.

    • eideard says:

      Nostalgia time. Actually, a local bartender of my acquaintance was a Universal Life minister – and performed the wedding between my wife and me beaucoup years ago.

      And if I remember right, JCD is also ordained – filling the same role at least once in his extended family.

    • noname says:

      Help, I need Pastafarian grief counseling from an ULC Ordained Minister for lost friends and how to deal with Anti pasta terrorism.

      I am grieving for lost Pastafarian friends. Police confiscated surveillance video showing during the Pastafarian meet and greet my friend shaking hands with an Anti-pasta apostate who snuck in.

      What is the world Cumming too? Why doesn’t FSM do anything? 🙁

      • ± says:

        That reminds me of another thing I’ve been wondering about; what happens when you mix pasta with anti pasta?

        • noname says:

          Barf?

        • noname says:

          At long last, the Flying Spaghetti Monster has answered scientist prayers and NASA is now working on creating pasta running warp drive!

          NASA must first contain the resulting Gluten Rays, else there is a world ending APASTACALYPSE!

          Its really simple Science bitches.
          pasta + (-pasta) => faster than light Spicy Space-Ball (SSB) + Gluten Rays!

  2. bobbo, the pragmatic existential evangelical anti-theist says:

    Hmmmph!!!! You’all may think this is funny……….but its how Scientology got started. Not that every religion isn’t a bad joke gone wrong. I blame my gluten allergy.

  3. ± says:

    I was wondering; if someone renounces their belief in the FSM, does that make them an apastate?

    [snicker]

  4. PeterR says:

    I too became a Universal Life Church minister years ago — I wanted the clergy parking sticker. Unfortunately it’s not valid here in Spain so I’m considering founding the Church of Universal Free Parking (CUFP), a.k.a. the I’ll Park Wherever I Damn Well Please Church. Maybe I should try working spaghetti into it somewhere. Free parking outside Italian restaurants?

  5. ± says:

    In the late 1960s, I sent $15 to become a Universal Life Church minister. The friend who sponsored me got enuff others to become ministers too, that they made him a became a bishop. I wish I still had the certificate. In fact, I will now try to contact them and see how good there records are.

  6. sargasso_c says:

    First country to give women the vote, one of the first to legalise same sex marriage, now allows marriage vows to a complex carbohydrate.


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