Gay Danish couples win right to marry in church

the Telegraph ^ | 6/7/2012 | Richard Orange

[markomalley]

The country's parliament voted through the new law on same-sex marriage by a large majority, making it mandatory for all churches to conduct gay marriages.

Denmark's church minister, Manu Sareen, called the vote "historic".

"I think it's very important to give all members of the church the possibility to get married. Today, it's only heterosexual couples."

Under the law, individual [Lutheran] priests can refuse to carry out the ceremony, but the local [Lutheran] bishop must arrange a replacement for their church.

The far-Right Danish People's Party mounted a strong campaign against the new law, which nonetheless passed with the support of 85 of the country's 111 MPs.

(snip)

Karsten Nissen, the [Lutheran] Bishop of Viborg, who is refusing to carry out the ceremonies, has warned that the new law risks "splitting the church".

[markomalley]

Please note: I inserted the [Lutheran] where appropriate to avoid confusion.

[markomalley]

ping (with a hearty congratulations to Bishop Nissen!)

[formosa]

Get real. The vast majority of gays are not in any way shape or form religious people. These types of demands on the clergy are done purely out of spite.

[ReformationFan]

If I’m understanding this correctly, it’s just for the state church, not non-state churches and other non-state religious institutions(I’m sure it’s not for the mosques).

[MNDude]

“What’s the big deal about letting to gays marry?” we are asked. Well, this is exactly what they have in mind. There is no end to what they’ll demand next.

[Clintonfatigued]

It sounds like something is rotten in Denmark.

[al_c]

I predicted this would happen. This will spread ... coming soon to a church near you.

[al_c]

These types of demands on the clergy are done purely out of spite.

Exactly!!!

[yldstrk]

eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww

[yldstrk]

Amen I say to the Bishop holding the line on civilization

[dfwgator]

If I’m understanding this correctly, it’s just for the state church, not non-state churches and other non-state religious institutions(I’m sure it’s not for the mosques).

This is precisely why Separation of Church and State is a very good thing.

[magellan]

"Denmark's church minister ... "

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why in this country we have the First Amendmen.

[ReformationFan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark#Religion

It looks like it’s declining every year. I figure it’s probably like a lot of state churches in Europe, i.e., folks show up for 3 reasons: to be baptized as a baby, to get married, and for their funeral.

[cherry]

if govt forces churches to "marry" two gays, then it can force two brothers to marry, a father and his 14 yro dtr, or two siblings, or a grandmother and her grandtr....

and why can't a man marry a goat if it makes him happy?

[ReformationFan]

Amen. Of course, when this denomination starting ordaining women, they opened the doors to this sort of thing happening.

[1010RD]

Here's how it all started:

Denmark has been a pioneer in gay rights since 1989, when it became the first country in the world to offer civil unions for gay couples.

[1010RD]

It isn't clear from the article that this applies only to the "state religion". Do you know of any more on this issue?

What is clear is that Europe is so far Left as to not even be recognizable to Americans:

Stig Elling, a travel industry millionaire and former Right-wing politician, said he planned to marry his partner of 28 years next week.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

“What’s the big deal about letting to gays marry?” we are asked. Well, this is exactly what they have in mind. There is no end to what they’ll demand next. I agree that, if wnd when gay marriage becomes widespread, they will try this here as well. But, without a state church, it won't be nearly as easy (as others have noted, this rule applies to the Danish state church only).

[1010RD]

It isn't clear from the article that this applies only to the "state religion". Do you know of any more on this issue?

What is clear is that Europe is so far Left as to not even be recognizable to Americans:

Stig Elling, a travel industry millionaire and former Right-wing politician, said he planned to marry his partner of 28 years next week.

[ReformationFan]

Here’s some more information about it:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2892841/posts