Stockholm, Sweden - Sweden's Lutheran Church has authorized special church ceremonies for same-sex partners, but the ceremonies will not be traditional weddings.
The Swedish Church Assembly, the decision-making body for the Church of Sweden, voted 160-81 last week to approve the blessing ceremony. The issue has been debated since the Scandinavian country recognized civil unions for same-sex couples in 1994.
Sweden has a liberal attitude toward homosexuality, but gay marriage is not legal. Later this year, a government-appointed committee is expected to file a report on whether the law allowing civil unions between same-sex couples should be changed to include marriage as well.
More than 7 million of Sweden's 9 million residents belong to the Church of Sweden, but few attend church regularly.