Gay Church Weddings For Norway. Take That, Pope Francis!

Norway Gay Marriage

Just days after The Vatican said same-sex couples can never marry in the eyes of God, religious leaders in Norway announce they’ll allow gays to tie the knot in church.

 

 

The leadership of the Church of Norway (Den Norske Kirke) today approved a new marriage ceremony that will include same-sex couples. After 20 years of debate, the Bishops’ Conference (Kirkemøtet) approved gay church marriage by a vote of 88 to 32.

“This is a big day for me, for Åpen folkekirke (Open people’s church)  and for the Church of Norway,” said Gard Sandaker-Nilsen said at the conference in Trondheim. “Finally we will celebrate love regardless of whom one loves,”

As part of the ruling, bishops and other church officials were granted the right to refuse to officiate at same-sex weddings. However, gay and lesbian couples are ensured the right of being married in their local church even if the officials decline to carry out the service.

The Church of Norway last discussed gay marriage in 2014, and the idea received a resounding thumbs down.

Last week in the document Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) Pope Francis said: “There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family.”

So, we’re wondering, does Norway have a different God?

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