Bishop attacked after gay snub

THE CHURCH of Norway’s Bishop of More, the Rt. Rev Ingeborg Midttømme, has come under sharp criticism from the media and government leaders after she refused to ordain a theological student living in a same-sex relationship.

Hanne Marie Pedersen-Eriksen, a recent graduate of the Church’s theological seminary, had been offered the post of vicar of Sandøy in Western Norway by the parish council.

However, the bishop declined to accept Ms Pedersen-Eriksen. The head of the parish council told her local newspaper that the decision was not unexpected.

“We know what Bishop Ingeborg Midttømme stands for, it is no surprise that she will not ordain Pedersen-Eriksen,” Norunn Blokkum, told the [I] Romsdals Budstikke.

“The bishop decides, but of course we are very disappointed.”

Bishop Midttømme, one of three women bishops among the 12 diocesan bishops in Norway, told the [I] Vårt Land newspaper on 9 April the House of Bishops had met “tonight about how this is to be understood. It is well known that we have different views,” adding, “The fact that we live with two views in this matter gives us these consequences.”