Norway eases ban on gays in clergy
OSLO — Norway’s state Lutheran church lifted an outright ban on clergy in same-sex relationships but will allow each bishop to decide whether to employ them.
After an anguished week of debate at its annual meeting, the church’s 86-member governing synod voted 50-34 to make the change. Two members abstained. The meeting, which ended Nov. 16, was held in the town of Lillehammer.
Six of Norway’s 11 bishops are expected to open their local pulpits to noncelibate gay and lesbian clergy.
The synod’s vote was a compromise revision of a 1997 resolution by the highest body in Norway’s state Protestant church that barred all gay clergy with same-gender partners from holding consecrated jobs.
Under Norwegian law, gay couples have rights comparable to those of married heterosexuals, apart from church weddings and adoption.
The church counts nearly 85 percent of Norway’s 4.7 million people as members.
Atheists, agnostics protest Nativity scene
MENOMINEE, Mich. — The nation’s largest group of atheists and agnostics has filed a letter of protest with the city for deciding to put a Nativity scene in its band shell.
Members of the parks and recreation committee approved the display this month with the provision that non-Christians be allowed to add their symbols.
The co-president of the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation said in a Nov. 15 letter that the display would violate the separation of church and state.
“It is unlawful for the city of Menominee to maintain, erect or host a display that consists solely of a Nativity scene, thus singling out, showing preference for and endorsing one religion, and commemorating its most holy day,” Annie Laurie Gaylor wrote to Menominee City Manager Eric Strahl.
