Former bishops resign after gay marriage call
The Local Norway - [email protected]
Published: 13 Dec, 2013 CET.
Updated: Fri 13 Dec 2013 22:37 CET
Two former bishops have resigned from the body that represents priests in Norway in protest at its decision to call for gay church marriages.
Per Lønning and Fredrik Grønningsæter, the former bishops of Fredrikstad and Bodø respectively, said they had no choice but to resign their membership of the Norwegian Association of Clergy, which represents 95 percent of the country's priests. "I am very disappointed and I have no other way to respond but by resigning my membership after 62 years, and four years as chairman," Grønningsæter said on Friday. Norway's bishops announced in October that they would not open the way for gay couples to marry in church when they meet for their synod in April, instead offering to give church blessings to civil unions. The Norwegian Association of Clergy on Wednesday issued a statement attacking the logic of the bishops' decision, saying they should instead begin drawing up a liturgy for gay weddings at next year's synod.
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Per Lønning and Fredrik Grønningsæter, the former bishops of Fredrikstad and Bodø respectively, said they had no choice but to resign their membership of the Norwegian Association of Clergy, which represents 95 percent of the country's priests.
"I am very disappointed and I have no other way to respond but by resigning my membership after 62 years, and four years as chairman," Grønningsæter said on Friday.
Norway's bishops announced in October that they would not open the way for gay couples to marry in church when they meet for their synod in April, instead offering to give church blessings to civil unions.
The Norwegian Association of Clergy on Wednesday issued a statement attacking the logic of the bishops' decision, saying they should instead begin drawing up a liturgy for gay weddings at next year's synod.
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