by Rex Wockner
International News
In violation of church rules, a pastor of Finland's state-supported Evangelical Lutheran Church has blessed the partnership of a lesbian couple, the Finnish Broadcasting Company reported July 23.
The bishop of Espoo, Mikko Heikka, said no action will be taken against the Rev. Liisa Tuovinen unless someone files a formal complaint over the matter.
Finland has had a registered-partnership law since 2002 and Lutheran bishops are expected to revisit the issue of same-sex blessings next year.
