By Chrysanthus Ikeh
Over 13, 000 members of Helsinki Lutheran Church’s congregation in Finland have reportedly quit the church over reports that gay marriage could be legalised.
According to reports, between Friday, November 28, 2014 and Sunday, November 30, 2014, more than 13, 000 people were confirmed to have left the church after the Archbishop, Kari Makinen announced he ‘rejoiced from the bottom of his heart’ following Finland’s Parliament’s vote on Friday, November 28, 2014 in favour of same-sex marriage.
Although a victory for campaigners for gay rights who gathered thousands of signatures to parliament to examine the issue, quitting the church means the former members will no longer pay church taxes, which are gathered for the Lutheran Church by the state in Finland.
