• Sweden edition

Outrage over drunken Swedish pastor's funeral service

Published: 2 Oct 09 13:21 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22434/20091002/

A family from Skåne in southern Sweden has demanded compensation from the Church of Sweden claiming that the pastor employed to conduct a funeral had consumed a glass too many in the vestry.

The family are demanding 300,000 kronor ($42,600) in compensation for the pastor's unruly behaviour.

The service was held a few weeks ago in north-western Skåne.

A report sent by the family to the Church of Sweden states that the priest was noticeably drunk, wobbly on his feet and was forced to prop himself by clutching on to the altar.

He went on to read a poem that no one in the congregation could understand, according to an article in newspaper Helsingborgs Dagbladet.

The sozzled pastor was also reported to have been behaving inappropriately with a younger woman in attendance, kissing her hand and hugging her in a manner unsuitable for a man of the cloth.

The family is currently pursuing their 300,000 kronor claim with the church.

"It's considerably less than what we have paid in church taxes," they said.

Christine Demsteader (news@thelocal.se)

Christine Demsteader is a freelance writer based in Stockholm.

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17:02 October 2, 2009 by bufflo
Would you give me a refund, if I saw you in heaven...
20:04 October 2, 2009 by maxbrando
Sozzled. Great word1
20:43 October 2, 2009 by bettan1
"300,000 claim against the church."

Isn't that really 300,000 kronor against the government since the government controls the church and it's beliefs ?

I would think such an act would be celebrated here since it's a sort of cultural thing to binge drink and pass out on the weekends anyway. So why the fuss? Sometime in the future there will no doubt be civil burial ceremonies and the church will be a thing of the past since 90% of Swedes don't believe in it anyway..
14:07 October 3, 2009 by trinaican
oh my...drunk...and at an altar...I have now officially heard it all
14:31 October 3, 2009 by delusion1982
Sweet. But has the family expected more from the Church - Aside from their online service to send prayers to God- that is their problem
18:12 October 4, 2009 by izbz
LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE!!!! At least there is a pastor who won't condemn and judge you if you come to church with a hangover.
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