Majority of Norwegian Christians support conversion ban

The Christian Norwegian daily Vårt Land reports that most bishops and diocesan councils within the Church of Norway speak positively about the government's proposed ban. However, the conservative network within the Norwegian Church, several Pentecostal congregations and several smaller denominations are more critical.

Even though bishop Halvor Nordhaug from the Church of Norway agrees with the bill, he has some reservations. According to Vårt Land, Nordhaug calls it "particularly unfortunate" that the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" are juxtaposed in the government's proposal. The bishop fears the criminalisation of parents or health workers questioning teenagers' wish for irreversible, gender-correcting treatment before the age of 18.

Nordhaug is not the only one critical of the bill. The Aaremark Pentecostal Congregation believes the proposal will "restrict the individual's right to conversation, spiritual care, information and guidance". The government, meanwhile, acknowledges that "counselling, spiritual care and intercession" can "contribute to people coming to terms with and living with acceptance of their sexual orientation". Therefore, the act must be "clearly suitable" for psychological harm and have a clear purpose of changing sexual orientation in order to be punishable, says the government.

The fact that it remains possible to talk about sexual orientation, although it is forbidden to try to change it, comforts some churches. Bishop Solveig Fiske and the Hamar diocese believe that the ban is compatible with human rights obligations, including freedom of religion. They do not feel that it "criminalises normal religious guidance".