In a significant step towards promoting religious inclusion and diversity in Spain, the first legally and civilly recognized Bahá’í marriage in the country has taken place. This milestone came after the Bahá’í community of Spain obtained recognition as a religious denomination with Notorious Roots, a procedural path in which they pioneered, allowing a couple to marry according to the Bahá’í ceremony without the need for an additional civil act.
“Having the status of Notorious Roots automatically allows religious communities to give civil validity to marriages celebrated according to their doctrine,” explains Ms. Clarisa Nieva, representative of the Bahá’í Community of Spain. “This step not only allows believers to save time and paperwork, avoiding having to celebrate both a Bahá’í marriage and a civil marriage for their marriage to be valid in the country. Spain, but also highlights the spiritual and legal significance of their beliefs.”
A simple but solemn process
The Bahá’í wedding ceremony is known for its simplicity and solemnity. During the ceremony, the bride and groom pledge to each other, “Indeed, we will all abide by the will of God,” before at least two witnesses approved by the local Bahá’í Board of Trustees. Members of this community, when it comes to their wedding, have a wide choice of additional details such as readings, music, and decorations, which are decided by the bride and groom.
Nura and Gonzalole, a pioneer couple in using this approval, claim to have carried out the initial procedures in the same way as any other resident of Spain, either by going to the Civil Registry or to a notary. “In our case, we went to the Civil Registry of Valladolid,” they say, “the important thing when starting the process was to mention that we wanted to celebrate a Baha’i religious marriage, for which we attached the necessary mentions that accredit our religion to access this new procedure,” they added.
A step towards inclusion
From the Bahá’í community, Clarisa Nieva expresses her gratitude for this move toward diversity: “From our religious community, we are grateful that civil procedures are opening up to the diversity of beliefs and practices that exist in our society.” But she warns of the challenge that this represents: “It is not an easy path for both parties; both the public administration and the religious communities must build bridges of communication and flexibility in the implementation of these procedures.”
In the absence of a “minister of worship” per se in the Bahá’í Faith to officiate at the ceremony, Nievas explains that they had to appoint “delegates with the capacity to register marriages” from their communities, so that they could register Bahá’í marriages with the Bahá’í Faith’s civil registry, thus demonstrating a commendable ability to make reasonable accommodations.
“We are very happy to be the first beneficiaries of this procedure that allows us to make known the importance of marriage in the Bahá’í teachings,” conclude the couple, who already have their family record book. “This union is not only between two people, but between two families. Marriage is considered a force for the well-being of the community and society of which we are a part.”
(…) These two bright stars are married in your love, together in the service of your Sacred Threshold, united in the attention of your Cause. Make this marriage like a thread of light of your abundant grace (…).
Abdul-Baha
Its origins and the impact of the Bahá’í Faith in Spain
The Bahá’í Faith, a religion with over eight million followers worldwide, focuses on the oneness of humanity and contributing to the common good through service activities. They strive to apply the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh (their founder) to their individual and collective lives in order to contribute to the betterment of their environment. It is also notable that the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) which advocates for the rights of its followers, in addition to making many contributions of knowledge and development and governance projects, has consultative status with the United Nations, where they are still very active. Most community activities focus on promoting the spiritual education of children, youth and families in order to serve society and contribute to the common good.
The Bahá’ís, with a history of almost 80 years in Spain, began with Virginia Orbison in 1946, managing to register for the first time in 1968 and obtaining the status of Notorious Roots in 2023 (BOE No. 230-Sec.III) which represents not only a recognition of their social and educational contribution, but also a sign of stability.
The community has more than 5,000 members and is present in 15 autonomous communities of Spain, with 108 registered entities and 17 places of worship promoting spiritual education and service to society. This recognition of Bahá’í marriage represents a further step towards its integration into Spanish society, celebrating its diversity and giving new meaning to religious coexistence in the country.
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