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Norway bishops step back from gay weddings

Norway's bishops will push for gay couples to have their civil unions blessed in church rather than for full church weddings when they meet for their annual synod next year, the country's Lutheran church has said.

At a meeting earlier this week, eight of the country’s twelve bishops declared themselves in favour of allowing same-sex couples to have full church weddings, the church said on Thursday. 
 
But, after discussions with the four opposing bishops, they agreed to settle for the simpler ceremony to avoid splitting the church. 
 
Even this scaled-down option is opposed by some or all of the opposing bishops, making it far from certain that it will be agreed at the synod, which is scheduled to take place in April 2014. 
 
Norway is one of the most liberal countries in Europe when it comes to homosexuality. Same-sex civil marriage and adoptions have been legal since 2009, and the Church of Norway also allows the ordination of homosexuals.
 
But it falls behind its Scandinavian neighbours on church weddings.  Neighbouring Sweden authorised religious same-sex marriage in 2009.
 
Denmark in 2012 made it mandatory for all churches to offer full religious weddings for same-sex couples, although priests opposed on principle can ask a colleague to take the service their place. 
 

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SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Same-sex couples can marry from July 1st in Switzerland

Same-sex couples will be permitted to get married in Switzerland on July 1st, 2022, nine months after a historic referendum.

Two grooms in suits with red heart balloons stand in front of a large heart which reads 'Same love, same rights' in German. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP
Two grooms in suits with red heart balloons stand in front of a large heart which reads 'Same love, same rights' in German. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

On September 26th, 2021, Switzerland voted to legalise same-sex marriage, becoming one of the last countries in western Europe to do so. 

Nine months after the vote, the “marriage for all” law will enter into force as of July 1st, 2022, the Federal Council announced.

From this date on, gay couples will be able to marry, though the preparatory procedure for marriage can be started before this date.

Same-sex couples will also be able to convert their registered partnership into marriage: a simple joint declaration to a civil status officer will suffice to convert a current partnership.

READ MORE:UPDATE: Swiss voters say big ‘yes’ to same-sex marriage

This law will be enacted after 64 percent of Swiss voters backed the move in a September 26th nationwide referendum.

Lengthy battle

Switzerland decriminalised homosexuality in 1942, but numerous local and regional police forces continued to keep “gay registers”, some into the early 1990s.

Same-sex couples can already register a civil partnership, with around 700 established each year.

However, this status does not provide the same rights as marriage, including for obtaining citizenship and the joint adoption of children.

READ MORE: ‘Deviance and morality’: The history of the same-sex marriage movement in Switzerland

After years of debate and discussion, the Swiss parliament approved a bill last December allowing same-sex couples to marry in the country of 8.6 million people.

But it was challenged under Switzerland’s direct democracy system, with opponents gathering the 50,000 signatures needed to put the issue to a referendum.

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