Danish Church Obliged to Perform Same Sex ‘Marriages’
The Evangelical Lutheran Church is forced to marry same sex couples after vote of Danish Parliament.
The Danish parliament voted by an overwhelming 85-24 margin to compel churches to carry out weddings for same-sex couples that are identical to heterosexual marriage celebrations. Despite of the statements of one third of the denomination’s vicars speaking out against the new possible ritual, the law passed. The Danish People’s Party strongly criticized the legislation. “Marriage is as old as man himself, and you can’t change something as fundamental,” said Christian Langballe, the party’s church spokesperson. The law took effect June 15. According to the new law the vicar is free to decline to marry same-sex couples, but it is the task of the deacon or the bishop to find someone who does. Sources: The Copenhagen Post (http://cphpost.dk/news/national/gay-marriage-legalised) Life Site News (http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/denmark-forces-churches-to-perform-same-sex-marriages) The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/07/denmark-approves-gay-wedd_0_n_1577288.html) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/denmark/9317447/Gay-Danish-couples-win-right-to-marry-in-church.html