The Norwegian parliament, disregarding objections from some of the nation's churches, has overwhelmingly approved legislation giving same-sex couples the right to marry and to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexual couples

Christian Century, July 15, 2008

The Norwegian parliament, disregarding objections from some of the nation's churches, has overwhelmingly approved legislation giving same-sex couples the right to marry and to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexual couples. Norway already allows gays and lesbians to enter into civil unions, but gay rights groups had argued that the previous law did not go far enough.

The Storting, as the parliament is called, voted 84 to 41 to approve the measure. It will take effect in 2009. Last November the state Evangelical Lutheran Church lifted an outright ban barring gays living in partnerships from serving in the clergy and ruled to allow individual bishops to decide whether to employ gays. At least six of the country's 11 Lutheran bishops support having gay clergy. Some 85 percent of Norway's 4.7 million people are registered with the state church. The legislation was opposed by the Catholic Church and the Christian Council of Norway.