The mass shooting in Oslo the night before the pride celebration was a wake-up call for Eigil and Astrid Morvik. Previously, they were two of several priests in Norway who argued against homosexual cohabitation. – The killings shook us, but in many ways it is just as shocking that very many queer people experience daily. They are bullied, mistrusted, condemned and experience that they are deprived of their human dignity, he says. He believes the church must take greater responsibility for this. – We have contributed to this. They need to hear from those who have changed their minds that we are sorry, he says. Eigil was previously a priest in Høyanger, but is now diocesan director of Tunsberg diocese in Vestfold and Telemark. On Sunday, both Eigil and his wife Astrid posted Facebook posts about how they came to a new position about ten years ago. – It has been several years since I changed my view on gay cohabitation, but I have not said it out loud, he says. Believes the church is responsible for the Islamic Council’s came yesterday with a clear statement that they condemn the shooting in Oslo, and emphasizes that the action has no roots in religion. Morvik believes that the church and church leaders have a great responsibility for the incitement queer in Norway has experienced. After 20 years of strife and disagreement, the church in 2016 agreed that gays can marry in the church. The first gay wedding in the Church of Norway was held in February 2017. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB scanpix Earlier this year, the twelve bishops in the Church of Norway also acknowledged that the Church of Norway’s attitudes to and mention of homosexuality over the years have «affected many people great injury and pain ». But they never used the word “sorry” in the statement, which Eigil Morvik now does. – This is an excuse for the pain my and other people’s attitudes have caused queer, but also an apology that I have not said this out loud before. Unfortunately, it takes tremors for you to really understand that you have to get on the field, he says. Wants stronger support Leader of Skeivt Christian network, Elisabeth Meling, thinks it is good that Morvik comes with the apology. – I am so grateful that he does it, at the same time as I wish you had done it earlier. It is so painful that it is a tragic event that must be the trigger, she says. Meling emphasizes that it is not a condemnation of either the church or the priests who are now speaking. Photo: Private Furthermore, she says that some will accept the apology with open arms, while others may feel skeptical or angry. – We want them to not only see us as sinners, but as people who have longings and desires on an equal footing with heterosexuals, she says. Meling wants the church to come up with a clearer excuse, but emphasizes that the responsibility does not only lie with bishops, priests and church leaders. During the mourning service in Oslo Cathedral on Sunday, the church was decorated with pride colors. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB She hopes more Christians in the congregations and non-denominational circles will stand up for the inclusion of LGBTQ people. Hope more do the same For the Morvik couple, it was, among other things, a couple of friends’ gay son who contributed to them changing their view of gay cohabitation. The two now interpret the Bible’s view of love and marriage in a different way than before. Although the majority in the church has changed its mind, he believes more people should talk loudly about it. – I think someone needs to hear that I and others who have argued differently before, now say that we were wrong, he says
ttn-69