– Once we have experienced colours, black and white will never be the same again, said Bent Høie. The colorful was the theme when he preached in St. Petri church in Stavanger on Wednesday during Skeiv messe. Mass is a tradition in the cathedral in Stavanger, but for state administrator and former health minister Høie it was the first time he spoke in a house of worship. He believes that the church has caused problems for queers before, but that in recent years they have improved a lot. – They welcome everyone, and that’s fantastic. The vicar is happy about the boast, but says they still have a way to go. Bent Høie’s sermon was about the colorful community, and started from the Bible verse where God creates and sees the rainbow for Noah after the flood, Genesis 9:12-14+16. Photo: Kristoffer Apall / news A traditional fair Skeivå, the biggest pride festival in Rogaland, is now underway. As in previous years, a Queer Mass will be organized in the church. Høie thinks it is important that queers, like him, can find a place in the house of worship. – Why are many queers concerned that the church, which has condemned them for many years, should recognize them? – It is because there are many queers who believe. Faith is an important part of their lives. Not then being allowed to be included in that community is perceived as very discriminatory, Høie replies. Despite the fact that queerness in the Church of Norway is sometimes controversial, the majority of employees, according to a survey carried out by the Church Council, have positive attitudes towards queerness. – In my opinion, it is in line with the faith that one conveys in the church, says Høie. A balance exercise Vicar Øivind Holtedahl is happy that Høie will speak at the service. – All people, no matter who we are, need to be confirmed that we are loved, just as we are. Regardless of orientation, gender or age, we humans have a need. He says queers have been subjected to discrimination and many bad things for a long time, including in the church. – Then it is even more important that the church says, loud and clear, that they are welcome and here we are together on equal terms. Here there is no difference between people, says Holtedahl. – Locally, this has in many ways been a natural consequence. At the same time, we have been constantly reminded that this is not a natural consequence. This is work that is important to continue with and take care of, says vicar Øivind Holtedahl. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Nevertheless, he is certain that there must be room for those who have other opinions about accepting, among other things, homosexuals who want to get married in the church. – Our challenge is to find ways to handle disagreement where we make room for disagreement, but where we manage to retain the respect and value of the queers we are talking about. The parish priest says he sometimes experiences that queerness is turned into an issue or an ideology, that the human element is lost. – So there is a balancing act. To find a way to formulate oneself where you think the whole way that you are talking about people’s lives, that you have it in the conversation, he says. The battle is not over Despite Høie bragging about how far the Church of Norway has come, he has no doubt that the battle is far from over. – Every time people ask us to tone down the colors or hold back, it feeds under the type of stance that the terrorist in Oslo had, he says. He believes that, among other things, trans people deserve to be lifted up by the queer environment. – Gays who look like me and act like me; we are actually doing very well in Norway and experience very little problem. We must not drag the ladder up after us, we must join and take the fight with those who actually started the fight at the Stonewall Inn. – We can become even more colourful, and that is what will make our society even more beautiful, says Høie.
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Bent Høie preached in the church during Skeivå Rogaland pride – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
