Denmark Forces Churches to Conduct Gay Marriages

Denmark's Parliament has approved a new law that forces the country's churches to conduct formal gay marriages rather than just short blessing ceremonies.

Under the new law, priests maintain the right to refuse to officiate the ceremony but the local bishop must arrange a replacement for their church.

Denmark has offered civil unions to gay couples since 1989 and legalized gay marriage in 2012.

The first church-conducted gay marriages could take place as early as this weekend.