Church of Sweden approves same-sex marriage

[bob bobato]

Sweden church allows gay weddings
The Lutheran Church of Sweden - the country's largest - is to conduct same-sex marriages from next month.

Around 70% of the church's 250-strong synod, or church board, voted to back the move, making it one of few global churches to allow gay marriage.

Sweden's government introduced a new law in May allowing gay couples the same marriage rights as heterosexuals.

Three-quarters of Swedes are members of the Lutheran church, though church attendance is low.

The Lutheran Church says gay couples can now get married by any of its priests from the beginning of November.

Individual priests will not be "forced" to perform same sex ceremonies, though substitutes will have to be found if they refuse.

The church - which split from state control in 2000 - backed the government's decision to legalise gay marriage in May.

But some clergy had questioned whether church ceremonies - and the term matrimony - should be reserved for heterosexual unions. Others opposed the move on the grounds it contravened the scriptures.

Limited opposition

In response, the Archbishop of Sweden, Anders Wejryd, told reporters: "For my part, the right decision was taken, but I can empathise with the many who believe this has gone too fast."

Sweden's largest gay rights group, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL), welcomed the move.

"[We] congratulate the Church of Sweden for its decision. [The church's] homosexual and bisexual members will finally be able to feel a little more welcome within society," the group said in a statement.

Sweden was one of the first countries to give gay couples legal "partnership" rights, in the mid-1990s, and to allow gay couples to adopt children from 2002.

It become the fifth European country, after the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Norway, to recognise same-sex marriage.

Link
This is probably the most surprising news story I've read in a while. A major, mainstream Christian Church (well, in Sweden), is allowing same-sex marriage! My, er, 'faith in humanity' is being boosted.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Good thing. Marriages are ceremonial after all.

 

[Tekee]

Isn't there only like 10% membership to the Church anyways in Sweden? 10% membership that has to be shared by all Christian Churches?
This isn't much of a victory because their church is already obsolete. Its gone and pointless who cares if this marginal organization allows gay marriage?
Wasn't it more important that the State allowed gay marriage and people were allowed to have differing opinions but the freedom to do as one pleases prevails?

 

[Godwynn]

Hurray for the Church of Sweden!

 

[bob bobato]

Wasn't it more important that the State allowed gay marriage and people were allowed to have differing opinions but the freedom to do as one pleases prevails?

Practically, yes. But it sets a precedent- there are virtually no churches which allow gay-marriage. Most barely tolerate homosexuality in the first place.

 

[Lord Gay]

Churches in Sweden are apparently VERY different from those in the US. I saw this video months ago and I still can't get over it.

An atheist does stand-up in a xian church... picking on the Bible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noBzX_9tiX0

EDIT: He speaks English and has some vids around in English as well, for those interested.

 

[Imrahil91]

Isn't there only like 10% membership to the Church anyways in Sweden? 10% membership that has to be shared by all Christian Churches?
This isn't much of a victory because their church is already obsolete. Its gone and pointless who cares if this marginal organization allows gay marriage?
Wasn't it more important that the State allowed gay marriage and people were allowed to have differing opinions but the freedom to do as one pleases prevails?

I think around 75% of the Swedish population are members of the Church, but only 10% are using it actively. However, most of the 75% members are using it for ceremonials like, baptizing, burials and marriage, so now gay people can have a ceremony and not just sign some papers to get married.

 

[MeteorPunch]

Church of Sweden aka, Sweden's moral values, not God's.

 

[Defiant47]

It is important for religions to adapt themselves with the changing world and environment, else they shall be rendered obsolete.

 

[Tee Kay]

Isn't "Church of Sweden" something of an oxymoron?

Anyway, great news.

 

[Gabryel Karolin]

The church of Sweden is more a cultural institution than a religious one. Its a joke.

 

[GenMarshall]

They're heritics anyway .

(The Church of Sweden that is)

 

[Riffraff]

Is there anything which isn't better in Sweden?

 

[Gabryel Karolin]

They're heritics anyway .

(The Church of Sweden that is)

At least they (supposedly) follow the pure form of Christianity as formulated by Martin Luther. Better than the papist mafia, the whore of Babylon, with their three gods and their absurd "vicar of Christ" delusion.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

At least they (supposedly) follow the pure form of Christianity as formulated by Martin Luther. Better than the papist mafia, the whore of Babylon, with their three gods and their absurd "vicar of Christ" delusion.

Are you serious?
I think this change more reflects a desire to adapt to a society that to a great extent has been formed by the state, than to follow a pure form of Christianity formulated by Luther.

The Orthodox and Catholic church was disappointed with the decision. I'm not sure what the Islamic community have to say about this or if they too will start wedding same sex couples. I haven't seen anything about it in the media.

 

[GenMarshall]

At least they (supposedly) follow the pure form of Christianity as formulated by Martin Luther. Better than the papist mafia, the whore of Babylon, with their three gods and their absurd "vicar of Christ" delusion.

Please, keep that anti-Catholic dribble and whining to yourself. Catholics worship one God just like any other Christian out there. Your statements on "three gods" only shows your ignorance about Catholism.

Are you serious?
I think this change more reflects a desire to adapt to a society that to a great extent has been formed by the state, than to follow a pure form of Christianity formulated by Luther.

The Orthodox and Catholic church was disappointed with the decision. I'm not sure what the Islamic community have to say about this or if they too will start wedding same sex couples. I haven't seen anything about it in the media.

I'm sure the conservative wing of the Anglican Communion are having fun with this story .

 

[Lillefix]

Please, keep that anti-Catholic dribble and whining to yourself. Catholics worship one God just like any other Christian out there. Your statements on "three gods" only shows your ignorance about Catholism.

I thought the Catholics had an entire pantheon of different minor gods(normally called saints) for different thing like medicin and so on, that people pray to.

 

[Godwynn]

Is there anything which isn't better in Sweden?

I can't think of anything off hand...

 

[Kraznaya]

Is there anything which isn't better in Sweden?

The income ceiling, for one.

 

[GenMarshall]

I thought the Catholics had an entire pantheon of different minor gods(normally called saints) for different thing like medicin and so on, that people pray to.

No they don't, there is only one God. There are NO minor god in Catholism. They worship the same god as other Christians do.

I can't think of anything off hand...

Godwynn wins the thread!