Church of Sweden Approves Gay Blessings

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- Sweden's Lutheran Church approved for gay couples to receive blessings for their same-sex partnerships in a special ceremony in the Church of Sweden.

The decision follows a vote by the Church Assembly, the highest body of authority in the Swedish Church, on Thursday. The issue has been debated since Sweden recognized civil unions for homosexual couples in 1994.

The assembly voted 160-81 to approve a blessing ceremony. The vote was not unexpected, since a Church Assembly committee had already declared its support for the move.

Swedish gay marriage supporters received another boost on Thursday as well with the news that civil registrars will not be allowed to refuse to conduct partnership ceremonies for gay couples. Currently civil registrars may refuse to perform gay partnership ceremonies. This may change with a new law currently in the works that will allow the government to take away the authorization to perform wedding ceremonies from civil registrars that refuse to perform gay partnership ceremonies.

Even though Sweden has recognized same-sex partnerships since 1994, the country does not yet allow gay marriages. A government-appointed committee will file a report later this year with a recommendation on whether or not the law should be changed to also allow gay marriages.

More than 7 million of Sweden's 9 million inhabitants belong to the Church of Sweden.