Sweden: Gay priest refuses to marry heterosexual couples, asks church to tackle homophobia

Openly homosexual priest Lars Gardfeldt of Carl Johan Parish in Gonburg, Sweden has refused to officiate marriages of heterosexual couples. In order to do so, he has referred to an individual priest’s right not to marry a couple in case of conscientious objection. Notably, Swedish church presently allows individual priests to refuse to wed specific couples if y are considered to have an issue with union. This is typically illustrated if involved parties are intoxicated or are under influence of any drugs, but could also include homosexuality which individual clergy might condone.

While speaking on Swedish Rio, Gardfeldt works in a parish said that he will no longer marry opposite-sex couples in order to “show absurdity of refusing marriage to two consenting ults.” As per Expressen newspaper, homosexual priest said that he felt “great sness” that he would no longer wed heterosexual couples but noted that he wants to show how church’s present position is “ologically and ethically reprehensible.”

Gardfeldt said, “I want to fix debate...We should not recruit new anti-gay priests. We should not ordain new priests who pass on idea that homosexuals are inferior people.”

Gardfeldt wants church to tackle homophobia

Swedish priest has also called for church to tackle homophobia within institution by refusing anti-gay priests. Gardfeldt said that it could only happen if bishops take a stringent approach. openly homosexual clergy has now also called on senior officials in Church of Sweden to safeguard rights of queer people by committing to overturning conscientious objection rule before church elections on September 19.

Church of Sweden, as per Pink News report is country’s largest Christian denomination. It is not only a former state church but has at least 5.8 million members. Reportedly, church is known for being a trailblazing force within religious circles of Sweden.

While same-sex couples have been allowed to get married in Church of Sweden since 2009, re still isn’t any requirement for priests to agree to perform such a union. individual clergy is allowed to refuse, a right that several church politicians do not wish to remove.

IMAGE: @larsgardfeldt/Twitter