Christianity: Norway to allow same-sex church weddings - by Catherine Hard

After 20 years of discussion, Norway’s main church has voted by an overwhelming majority to allow same-sex marriage.

The Lutheran Church of Norway today voted in favour of gay marriage: https://t.co/zXO7qz4uZN pic.twitter.com/BHmErVhrib

— Christian Today (@ChristianToday) April 11, 2016

88 of the 115 delegates backed the decision at the annual conference of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Trondheim.

Under the new rules, priests who do not want to marry a same-sex couple will still have the right to object.

Those against the decision says the Bible defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

At present, gay marriage is possible in Sweden, Denmark and a number of anglo-saxon congregations around the world.

Norway became the second country in the world after Denmark to allow same-sex registered partnerships in 1993.

The Nordic country of 5.2 million people has allowed civil same-sex marriage since 2009.

Around 74% of Norwegians are members of the Lutheran Church, according to national statistics.

The number has been declining.

Read more: Norway to allow same-sex church weddings | euronews, world news

Italy: Catholic Church and Equal Rights - Anti-Gay Pope Francis Meets Sweden's Antje Jackelén Female Head Of Lutheran Church

The Vatican made history Monday when Pope Francis welcomed a woman archbishop to an official audience at the Apostolic Palace for the first time, according to Vatican Radio.

Archbishop Antje Jackelén, the first female head of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, tweeted her gratitude for the meeting to the pope, with a photograph of the two religious leaders chatting.

The pontiff has staunchly opposed ordination for women in the Catholic Church. “The Church has spoken and says no... That door is closed," he said in a July 2013 press conference.

The topic on Monday's agenda was not, however, women's role in the church, but rather the need for Christian unity across denominations and for better care for the poor. Francis addressed the archbishop as "esteemed Mrs. Jackelén, esteemed sister" in his call for charity.

“The call to unity as followers of Our Lord Jesus Christ includes an urgent call for a common effort on the charity front," Francis said, according to Vatican Insider. "The testimony of our brothers and sisters especially, pushes us to grow in fraternal communion."

Note EU-Digest:  in the meantime it was reported that the Pope - who in some eyes is a "wolf in sheep's clothing", has personally met with France’s proposed Gay ambassador to the Vatican – to tell him his appointment will be blocked because he is gay.

Read more: Pope Francis Meets With Female Head Of Church Of Sweden, Archbishop Antje Jackelén

The Local - Sexual provocativeness as Swedish Lutheran Church to join Stockholm Gay Pride parade

For the complete report from the The Local click on this link

Sexual provocativeness as Swedish Lutheran Church to join Stockholm Gay Pride parade

The Swedish Lutheran Church will march for the first time in the Gay Pride parade in Stockholm under the slogan "Love is stronger than everything", the Church announced on Thursday. "For the first time ever, the parade at the Pride festival will have a delegation from the Swedish Church," it said in a statement.

The parade will go through the streets of the Swedish capital on Saturday. The Church said the delegation would include about 30 people including two deans from the Stockholm and Uppsala cathedrals. It said it also wanted to "break the masses' big silence" regarding gays, bisexuals and transsexuals.