Church of Norway issues formal apology to LGBTQ+ community for historical discrimination

The Church of Norway has formally apologized to the LGBTQ+ community for decades of discriminatory practices, acknowledging the significant harm caused by the institution and expressing gratitude to advocates who have championed change.

Presiding Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit delivered the apology on Thursday at the London Pub in Oslo, a prominent LGBTQ+ venue that was the site of a tragic shooting in June 2022 during the city's Pride celebrations.

Speaking on behalf of the Norwegian Bishops' Conference, Bishop Tveit emphasized the importance of freedom and acceptance in matters of love and identity.

"The church in Norway has imposed shame, great harm and pain… this should not have happened, and that is why I apologise today," Bishop Tveit stated, recognizing the deep wounds inflicted by past actions.

According to Reuters, the apology builds upon a previous acknowledgment by the church's bishops in 2022, which recognized the pain caused to LGBTQ+ individuals. Historically, the Church of Norway has held discriminatory views, with the Norwegian Bishops' Conference describing gay people as a "social danger of global dimensions" in the 1950s.

Following the apology, a church service was scheduled to take place at the Oslo Cathedral on Thursday evening, marking a moment of reflection and reconciliation.

Today, the Church of Norway, an Evangelical Lutheran denomination and the largest faith community in the Nordic region, permits same-sex couples to marry in ceremonies officiated by its clergy.

This action follows a similar apology issued by the Church of England in January 2023 for its own "shameful" treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. While the Church of England has apologized, it maintains its stance against allowing same-sex marriages within its churches. Recent plans to trial separate blessings for same-sex couples have been halted, though these blessings can still occur within regular church services.