News

By Hilary White

OSLO, Norway, April 15, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – While the homosexualist political movement continues to achieve its goals among the elite in Europe, and in the governments and courts, the general public in some countries is yet to be convinced. Immigrants and native Norwegians alike gathered in Youngstorget square in downtown Oslo this weekend to protest efforts to install “gay marriage” in Norway.

The protesters, who included both Christians and Muslims, marched from Karl Johans Gate to the square, shouting, “Yes to marriage between men and women”. The demonstration was met by counter-demonstrators from homosexual activist groups.

The protesters were addressed by Per Lønning, a bishop in the official state Norwegian Lutheran church and a theologian, professor and politician. Lønning called the concept of “sex-neutral” marriage, nonsense “typical of our times”. Lønning was bishop of the Lutheran diocese of Borg but resigned in 1978 in protest against the passing of a law that allowed abortion on demand in Norway.

The protest followed an announcement from the Norwegian government March 14 that introduced legislation that would dissolve the definition of civil marriage as being between a man and a woman and equate homosexual partnerings with natural marriage. This would include all the same rights as marriage, including church weddings, adoption and assisted pregnancies. If passed, the new legislation is set to replace a 1993 law that created homosexual civil unions with some restrictions.

“This new marriage law is a step forward along the lines of voting rights for all and equality laws,” said Minister of Children and Equality Anniken Huitfeldt. “The new law does not weaken the institution of marriage, rather, it strengthens it,” Huitfeldt said. “Marriage does not become less valuable because more people can take part in it.”

The opposition Christian Democratic party said it opposed the measure.