Since Sweden's
Ministry of Justice announced last week that beginning in
the spring, local registrars will not be able to refuse to
join gay couples under the country's civil unions law,
some officials have protested, arguing that registrars
will resign. Under current law, registrars can decide
for themselves--and in Stockholm, for example, one
fifth of the registrars refuse to join gay couples.
The change is
part of an issue that has been debated since the
Scandinavian country legalized civil unions for gay couples
in 1994. The announcement came as Sweden's Lutheran
Church established a special blessing ceremony for
same-sex partnerships that is apart
from traditional weddings. The Swedish Church Assembly,
the decision-making body for the Church of Sweden,
voted 160-81 to approve the ceremony.
Sweden has a
liberal attitude toward gay rights, but same-sex marriage is
not yet legal. Later this year a government-appointed
committee is expected to file a report on whether the
law allowing civil unions between gay
couples should be changed to include marriage as well.
More than 7 million of Sweden's 9 million inhabitants belong
to the Church of Sweden, but few attend church
regularly. (Advocate.com)
