Minister's Blessing Draws Complaints

Liisa Tuovinen blessed the registered partnership around two weeks ago at a parish summer camp facility. At that time the bishop of Espoo, Mikko Heikka, said the church would not take any steps regarding the matter unless a formal complaint was filed.

The complaints, which were submitted on Monday, state that Tuovinen's actions violated official policy of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church, and that she should be punished.

Espoo's cathedral chapter will now take up the matter in three weeks. Case Not a Precedent

Two years ago Lutheran minister Leena Huovinen blessed a gay couple at a Helsinki restaurant. A complaint was filed, but no action was taken against her. Tuovinen says that other such ceremonies have been held at private homes.

Finland's Lutheran bishops are to reconsider the issue of blessing same-sex unions next year.

Nearly nine out of 10 Finns are members of the state-supported Evangelical Lutheran Church. Same-sex couples have been allowed to register their relationships with a magistrate since 2002.