OSLO, Norway — 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 the law does not go far enough in granting equal rights.
The Storting, as the parliament is called, voted 84–41 to approve the measure. It will take effect in 2009.
The new legislation follows action last November in which the state Evangelical Lutheran Church lifted an outright ban barring gays living in partnerships from serving in the clergy and allowed individual bishops to decide whether to employ gays. At least six of the country’s 11 bishops support gay clergy.
Some 85 percent of Norway’s 4.7 million people are registered with the state church.
The proposal was opposed by the country’s Roman Catholic Church as well as the Christian Council of Norway.
(TAB)
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