Complaint over church blessing of same-sex union
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The Helsinki Cathedral Chapter of the Evangelical Lutheran Church has received a complaint over a blessing given by a Lutheran pastor to a homosexual couple. According to the complaint, Pastor Leena Huovinen had blessed the union of two people of the same gender.
The matter was reported by the Lutheran Church newspaper Kotimaa on Thursday.
The complaint was made by a group of theology students. Huovinen works as a university students' pastor in Helsinki, and also ministers to the Finnish Olympic team.
Archbishop Jukka Paarma says giving a ceremonial blessing to a homosexual relationship would constitute misconduct. However, he added that pastoral care is a different matter.
The event in question took place two years ago.
"The Church has no formula in the matter, so no such ceremony could have taken place. I simply gave a blessing to people", Leena Huovinen notes.
She feels that the Lutheran Church should have clear rules on the matter. Finnish law has allowed the registering of civil unions of same-sex couples for five years already.
"The Church has still not taken a unified stand on the issue. In spite of this, people have the right to ask for a blessing", Huovinen said.
The Cathedral Chapter will take up the matter on February 6th.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 26.1.2007 - TODAY |
 Complaint over church blessing of same-sex union
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