News
2006-03-16
Lesbian up for
Swedish archbishop post
The lesbian
sister of the head of the Lutheran Church of Sweden is among
five candidates vying to succeed him in an election
Wednesda
The lesbian
sister of the head of the Lutheran Church of Sweden is among
five candidates vying to succeed him in an election
Wednesday in Stockholm. Archbishop Karl Gustav Hammar
is stepping down from the post this year after nine years.
His sister, Anna Karin Hammar, a minister who
lives with her partner, is one of three ministers
vying for the job. Two bishops are also running for
the post.
Leaders of the church's 13 parishes are eligible
to vote. If none of the candidates wins a majority of
the roughly 320 votes, a runoff will be held March 30
between the two top finishers.
The Lutheran Church of Sweden lost its status as
a state church in 2000 but is still by far the largest
religious institution in the Scandinavian country.
Archbishop Hammar has drawn the ire of conservative factions
within the church because of his liberal views on
homosexuality and his statements that God does not
interfere in people's everyday lives.
The church assembly decided last year to allow
the blessing of unions of gay partners in special
church ceremonies, though those unions are not
recognized as traditional weddings. The issue had been
debated since the secularized Scandinavian country
legalized civil unions for gay couples in 1994. (AP)
Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.
Page 1 of 1