Hilde Raastad, who became Norway's first lesbian priest when she started working for the Norwegian State Church in 1995, is leaving the church.
Since the beginning she has fought against what she refers to as homophobic church leaders.
Raastad does no longer want to have to relate her spiritual leader, Oslo Bishop Ole Christian Kvarme. She has written him a letter where she asks to be released from her position.
Raastad tells Aftenposten that she is both angry and upset because her love has become a problem to the Church.
- It has become unbearable for me to represent a church where parts of it is still so exclusive. It's not enough for me to be the priest in a church that is still considering whether my partner for more than 30 years and I can get married if we want to," she says.
The Diocese Council has ordered all its church communities to emphasize that a job applicant 's relationship status may be taken into consideration. According to the Labor Law, this kind of formulation is allowed in a job posting if "it is significant to how a person will execute the task."
Oslo's Bishop, Ole Christian Kvarme tells Aftenposten that he has not read Raastad's letter, and although he did not want to comment he said that he will most likely get in touch with Raastad to hear what she has to say.
(Aftenposten)
Julie Ryland
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