The Church of Sweden to Perform Gay Wedding Ceremonies

One more country is about to make same sex marriages legal. The Church of Sweden has announced its intention to allow gay wedding ceremonies if the Swedish parliament agrees to change the legislation and permit same-sex marriages. The church has already made the first step towards approval of same-sex marriages since it already performs blessing of same-sex civil unions that was allowed in 2005.

Though the church is going to open its doors for same-sex ceremonies it leaves it up to each priest to decide whether to perform it or not. Gays and lesbians are going to be wed in the same way as straight couples, but the church would like the ceremony for same-sex couples to have a different name.

Civil marriages in Sweden have been legal for already 12 years since 1995 when it was conferred almost the same obligations and benefits of marriages in law. Nevertheless, in August civil law was found outdated and parliamentary committee recommended the government to allow same-sex family union in law.

Now the Church of Sweden is going to join the United Churches of Christ that already performs gay and lesbian wedding ceremonies like some other churches do.

Sweden is one of the countries of the largest public approval ratings for legalizing gay and lesbian marriage, according to the Angus Global Monitor poll regarding EU integration.

The results of the poll show that 71 percent of Swedes approve of legalizing for same sex marriage. More than half of Swedes (51 percent) consider that adoption for same-sex couples should be legalized.

Another anonymous Internet poll regarding same sex marriages showed the following results:

57 percent of respondents consider that same-sex couples should have the right to full marriage and to have the same rights as heterosexual couples.

6 percent of those who took part in the poll think that there should not be full marriage right for same-sex couples, however there should be a provision for civil unions for gays and lesbians.

33 percent said the government should get out of sanctioning same-sex marriages.

2 percent said that didn't care about this issue.

Same sex marriages have already been legalized in such countries as Belgium, Canada, South Africa and the state of Massachusetts.