The Bible became the rescue priest's rescue

The Swedish Church's Board of Appeal has mainly gone to the Bible's formulations when the disgraced confirmation priest has now been restored with full ordination service.

This means that what happened during the so-called gay camp, where the priest sentenced homosexuals and claimed that it was the devil who caused the students to react to the allegations, can pass without any action.

The Board of Appeal formally cancels the decision of the chapter, and Chairman Johan Munck believes that his play on homosexuals "was not so dangerous" that it would lead to defamation.

“About a decade ago, almost everyone seemed like this priest, but now it's not. On the other hand, there is no one for all current attitudes about same-sex relationships and LGBTQ issues, and the priest's statement cannot therefore contradict the Swedish church's faith, confession and doctrine. In this case, the Bible is the most important source of justice and overshadows the church meetings to which it has been referred, he says.

Bishop Åsa Nyström nevertheless tries to see positive things in the decision of the Board of Appeal, such that all confirmants should be informed that the church is dedicated to same-sex couples.

- We're sticking to it and that means we can continue to run that line. All same-sex couples who want to be wed in the church are welcome. Same-sex love with respect, the Bible says yes to that, she says.

According to Åsa Nyström, the church meeting's decision from 2005 must now be carefully reviewed in order to make it clear what it means in practice.

- Because it is so clear that we have decided that it is forbidden to condemn homosexuals, nor should we blame homosexuals and we must actively oppose discrimination against them. We've all learned something from this. You never go back, but forward in a new reflection, says Åsa Nyström.