Swedish Goofballs

Gay-rights activists, in their push for legalized so-called same sex marriage, have consistently assured their opponents that the state would never force churches to perform marriage ceremonies. Of course, we don't believe them - as California voters demonstrated last year, and Maine voters showed yesterday, by defeating so-called same sex marriage ballot measures.

Unfortunately, there are some denominations who, on their own accord, proceed with the sham ceremonies anyway. All in the name of compassion and sympathy, of course. And just last week, the General Synod of the Church of Sweden approved a recommendation that the Swedish Church allow gay marriages to be performed in their churches.

From the Church Times: Same Sex Marriage Approved

THE Kyrkomötet (General Synod) of the Church of Sweden approved a recommend­ation that the Swedish Church should conduct weddings in church for both heterosexual and same-sex couples last week. The marriage liturgy will be amended slightly to reflect this.

The changes will take effect from Sunday 1 November. No individual cleric will be obliged to perform such a service, but every parish will be required to make provision for the liturgy, and to use visiting priests if necessary. The voting was 176 in favour with 62 against, and 11 abstentions.

In May, new civil legislation repealed the separate provision for registered partnerships which had been in force since 1995. It provided that same-sex couples should now have the same legal marriage status as mixed-sex couples (News, 17 July). Existing civil partners are able to convert their relationship into marriage if they wish.

The Church of Sweden has provided a formal liturgy for the blessing of same-sex registered part­nerships since January 2007, al­though informal blessings approved by the bishops began in the 1990s.

The 14 Swedish bishops have a voice in the synod, but they are not voting members. Many of them spoke during the full day of discus­sion that preceded the vote. After­wards, seven bishops published a letter that criticised the decision, saying that it “puts at risk the unity of the Church”.

I have to wonder if the Church of Sweden has its own version of the Lavender Mafia.

I also wonder if those seven bishops are paying close attention to the TAC.