More information in this article from Reuters:
Swedish pastor cleared after anti-gay sermon
Stockholm - Sweden's Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared an evangelical pastor of inciting hatred after he labelled homosexuality "a cancerous tumour" responsible for Aids during a 2003 sermon.
The case has acted as a rallying point for Christian groups in Sweden and abroad which defend the pastor's right to freedom of speech and faith.
The highest court upheld a ruling by a lower court which affirmed pastor Ake Green's right to preach religious views even if many found them offensive.
The lower court had overturned a sentence of one month in jail for inciting hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.
"The Supreme court has today confirmed the court of second instance's ruling in the case," the supreme court said.
"That means that the charge against Ake Green has been dismissed."
The case comes amid worldwide debate about gay clergy and gay marriage.
Sweden's Lutheran church, to which 80 percent of Swedes nominally belong, faces a revolt by more than 700 of its 5 000 priests over a decision to bless gay couples.
Actually, the number now is up to 864 pastors who have signed Prästdeklarationen, "The Priests' Declaration" protesting the decision by the Church of Sweden (Den Svenska Kyrkan) to bless homosexual partnerships. I personally know a number of the Swedish pastors whose names are listed as signing this declaration. Here is a translation (not mine):
THE PRIESTS´ DECLARATION
To: The parishes of the Church of Sweden and their decision-making bodies
The Church of Sweden has decided to introduce an official order of blessing for registered partnerships and this has been written into the Church Order.
We, priests of this church, who have signed this declaration, consider this decision to be contrary to that order of cohabitation and marriage which God, through his Word, has revealed to us, and which is defined as a relationship between a man and a woman. The Word of God does not permit us to bless any other type of relationship as a couple.
As priests, we are bound by the promises of faithfulness to Holy Scripture and to the confession of the church which we made at our ordination. We therefore totally reject this order, which has been decided upon, and in this way we want to make that generally and publicly known.”
All Saints Day
1st of November, 2005