Danish bishop orders priests to shake hands with female clergy

Ed: Apparently the men are only in it for the money anyway.

Male clergy in the Danish diocese of Viborg are no longer exempt from shaking hands with newly-ordained female clergy, the bishop of Viborg said Friday. Bishop Karsten Nissen had previously allowed male priests who opposed female clergy not to shake hands after the ordination ceremony.

Nissen told reporters Friday that female priests should "be fully respected" in the state Evangelical Lutheran Church and he could no longer allow opponents to female clergy to avoid handshaking.

Several female clergy welcomed the bishop's move.

Vicar Susan Aaen told local radio that it was a sign that the church "respects both female and male priests."

Another female vicar, Lise Hove, said she was surprised that the "minority of fundamentalist" male clergy who opposed female priests stayed on in the church with colleagues they did not accept.

"But they are paid by the state, and it is comfortable," Hove said. Read more
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