Denmark Government forces churches to marry homosexuals
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 liberal church minister, agnostic and LGBTQ supporter, Mr 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. The debate has been really tough," said Mr Sareen, an agnostic who has pushed hard for the legislation since taking his post last autumn.
Under the law, individual priests can refuse to carry out the ceremony, but the local bishop must arrange a replacement for their church.
The 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.
"Marriage is as old as man himself, and you can't change something as fundamental," the party's church spokesperson Christian Langballe said during the debate. "Marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman."Karsten Nissen, the Bishop of Viborg, who is refusing to carry out the ceremonies, has warned that the new law risks "splitting the church".
"Those against the sin of homosexuality among Danish people, politicians and priests really shouted out loud throughout the process. But ultimately were ignored and now are being forced by governement against their will, conscience and sure to perform an abomination."
The first gay marriages will take place soon. This contrasts with neighbouring Norway, where bishops are still debating the correct 'ritual' for the ceremonies, years after a 2008 parliamentary vote in favour of immoral gay marriage.
Stig Elling, a travel industry millionaire and former politician, said he planned to marry his homosexual partner of 28 years next week. Living in sin for 28 years, abhorent to God and the scriptures, now wants the church to sanction his sin. Notice his remarks:
"We have felt a little like we were living in the Middle Ages. I think it is positive that there is now a majority for it, and that there are so many priests and bishops who are in favour of it, and that the Danish population supports up about it. We have moved forward."
Denmark has sadly not returned to the Dark Ages as Elling has said but simply gone to hell....biblical literacy is zero - obedience to God's word zero. Denmark rejected by God and condemned.
