CarnalNation

The Church of Sweden, the world's largest Lutheran group, announced yesterday that it would allow gays and lesbians to marry in the Church.

English-language Swedish news site The Local reports that the country's ministers have been blessing homosexual partnerships since 2007, but only now have taken the further step to call it marriage.  The measure was approved by church leaders by a margin of 176-73, with two members absent.  (According to the decision, ministers will still be able to refuse individual couples, the same way they can with straight couples.)

Sveriges Radio spoke with Nils Gårder, one of the dissenting voices.  Gårder fears the decision may actually split the Church:  "There are worries that the church might lose its basis if people were not to be married in church anymore. But I believe that the church will be split by following the controversial proposals of the church board. Introducing traditional marriage procedures for partners of the same gender can be provocative against those who have a different opinion."

6.9 million people, about three quarters of Sweden's total population, are members of the Church, though only about two percent of Swedes actually go to church every week.

The Swedish Parliament passed legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry back in May; though the Church of Sweden hasn't officially been the state church since 2000, the decision was not especially surprising to Swedes.  Incidentally, yesterday's vote was reached just three days after the thirtieth anniversary of the Swedish government's decision to no longer refer to homosexuality as a disease.  Ceremonies will start as early as next weekend.