[Magdalen] Clergy Fees.

[Jo Craddock]

In Louisiana, only ministers (ordination certificates registered with 
the clerk of court), judges, and justices of the peace are authorized to 
perform marriage ceremonies. Our priests do not set a fee for their 
services, but contributions to their discretionary funds are accepted; 
I've seen them from $25 to $500, and the occasional outlier of much 
more, but since it's written to the church, cynical-me wonders if those 
aren't inspired as tax-deductible church contributions rather than 
"clergy fees." (If the church is used, there are facility fees - some 
substantial, unless compared to the cost of the average bridesmaid gown 
or, <gasp> the reception!)

Son Rory, now in his last year of law school, obtained his Universal 
Life minister credentials via mail order when some law school friends 
wanted to be wed outdoors without the haranguing of either family as to 
not using a church, or who would preside, and, as I understand, has 
officiated at more than a few others, since then. Last I heard, his fee 
is $50 plus mileage for such a basic ceremony as you describe.

FWIW, YMMV, IANAL, etc., etc.

Peace,
Jo, who skims the list at least daily and hopes a New Year's resolution 
can be to harness work time to a more manageable level so she can, once 
again, sit amongst friends in the Pub instead of just popping her head 
in the door