Most Swedish ministers would marry gays

Published: Jan. 24, 2009 at 12:22 AM

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- A majority of Swedish ministers would be willing to perform marriage ceremonies for gay couples, a survey found.

The Church of Sweden is scheduled to consider same-sex marriage at a meeting in the fall, the Swedish news agency TT reported.

In a Sveriges Television poll of 1,700 ministers, 68 percent said they would be willing to unite same-sex couples. Only 21 percent said they would refuse, while 11 percent were undecided or had no opinion.

"There's a very clear majority that is open to this. And having so many pastors on board clearly makes it easier for the Church of Sweden to take such a decision," Archbishop Anders Wejryd told SVT.

The Church of Sweden was the established state church until 2000. It is the largest Lutheran group in the world and the largest church in the country.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/24/Most_Swedish_ministers_would_marry_gays/UPI-97371232774524/