Swedish Bishop refuses ordination of priest with traditional marriage view

The bishops respond to a survey by the Swedish newspaper Syre. They indicate that they do not accept that people who oppose same-sex marriage become priests in the Church of Sweden, Varlden Idag reports.

Employability

Andreas Holmberg, a bishop in Stockholm, writes in an e-mail to Varlden Idag that he would not ordain a priest who is clear about not ordaining same-sex couples. “This is because, in practice, it would be very difficult for him to a get a priest’s position in the Stockholm diocese”, Holmberg explains his position to the newspaper. “As a bishop, I need to take responsibility for the employability of those who are ordained as priests.”

It is highly unusual for an applicant not to want to marry same-sex couples, says bishop Mikael Mogren from Västerås to Syre. He points out that the topic of gay marriage is always discussed during the admission of a candidate. If someone remains at his traditional view of marriage and persists in not performing same-sex marriages, Mogren will not ordain him. “The answer is no.”

Also, Sören Dalevi, a bishop in Karlstad diocese, says to Syre that all priests should “happily and of their own free will marry couples of different sexes as well as couples of the same sex.” He stresses that this target is guiding in the admission of priest candidates. Earlier, he told Sveriges Radio that he is always very clear to new priests that his diocese performs gay marriages.

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