[Vision2020] 06-10-04 Breaking AP: Lutheran Minister Who Said God Doesn't Exist Is Suspended Again

Thu, 10 Jun 2004 09:40:41 -0700

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Jun 10, 2004

Lutheran Minister Who Said God Doesn't Exist Is Suspended Again
By Jan M. Olsen
Associated Press Writer

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - The Lutheran minister who proclaimed last year that
there was no God or afterlife was suspended for a second time Thursday for
ignoring church orders not to repeat those beliefs from the pulpit.
Helsingoer Bishop Lise-Lotte Rebel suspended the Rev. Thorkild Grosboell, pastor
of Taarbaek, and handed his case to the government "requesting that it take the
necessary steps."

In Denmark, Lutheran ministers are employed by the state and only the government
can fire them and only with a recommendation from their presiding bishop. Rebel
oversees the diocese that includes Taarbaek, a small town north of Copenhagen.

Grosboell has been under Rebel's strict supervision since he first was suspended
after a May 2003 interview in which he said "there is no heavenly God, there is
no eternal life, there is no resurrection."

About 85 percent of Danes belong to the state Evangelical Lutheran Church,
though just 5 percent attend church services regularly.

Grosboell eventually retracted his statement and apologized for what Rebel had
termed "provocative" remarks. His suspension was lifted.

Yet, he repeated those beliefs in past weeks.

"I expected he would change his mind," the bishop said in a statement Thursday.

Grosboell "again has spoken in a strongly provocative, hurting and confusing
way," Rebel said.

She cited an undated but recent sermon in which Grosboell allegedly said, "God
had abdicated in favor of his son, hence in our favor. Therefore there is no
longer a heavenly guarantee or an interfering might, there is only the godly
kingdom (on earth) that is achieved by us and between us. So if it fails, there
is nothing."

The sermon was "clearly incompatible with the state church's faith," the bishop
said.

Rebel concluded that Grosboell "had disregarded the state church's basis for
belief, undermined his duty's (of) respect and confidence, disregarded the
official order (and) caused a deep confusion about the state church."

Grosboell responded by saying he was puzzled.

"Basically, I can only say that I still don't understand what she means and
talks about," he told The Associated Press, adding there was "nothing concrete"
in her order. He did not deny giving the sermon.

AP-ES-06-10-04 1201EDT

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Jun 10, 2004
<H2>Lutheran Minister Who Said God Doesn't Exist Is Suspended =
Again</H2>By Jan=20
M. Olsen Associated Press Writer COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - =
The=20
Lutheran minister who proclaimed last year that there was no God or =
afterlife=20
was suspended for a second time Thursday for ignoring church orders not =
to=20
repeat those beliefs from the pulpit.=20
Helsingoer Bishop Lise-Lotte Rebel suspended the Rev. Thorkild =
Grosboell,=20
pastor of Taarbaek, and handed his case to the government "requesting =
that it=20
take the necessary steps."=20
In Denmark, Lutheran ministers are employed by the state and only the =

government can fire them and only with a recommendation from their =
presiding=20
bishop. Rebel oversees the diocese that includes Taarbaek, a small town =
north of=20
Copenhagen.=20
Grosboell has been under Rebel's strict supervision since he first =
was=20
suspended after a May 2003 interview in which he said "there is no =
heavenly God,=20
there is no eternal life, there is no resurrection."=20
About 85 percent of Danes belong to the state Evangelical Lutheran =
Church,=20
though just 5 percent attend church services regularly.=20
Grosboell eventually retracted his statement and apologized for what =
Rebel=20
had termed "provocative" remarks. His suspension was lifted.=20
Yet, he repeated those beliefs in past weeks.=20
"I expected he would change his mind," the bishop said in a statement =

Thursday.=20
Grosboell "again has spoken in a strongly provocative, hurting and =
confusing=20
way," Rebel said.=20
She cited an undated but recent sermon in which Grosboell allegedly =
said,=20
"God had abdicated in favor of his son, hence in our favor. Therefore =
there is=20
no longer a heavenly guarantee or an interfering might, there is only =
the godly=20
kingdom (on earth) that is achieved by us and between us. So if it =
fails, there=20
is nothing."=20
The sermon was "clearly incompatible with the state church's faith," =
the=20
bishop said.=20
Rebel concluded that Grosboell "had disregarded the state church's =
basis for=20
belief, undermined his duty's (of) respect and confidence, disregarded =
the=20
official order (and) caused a deep confusion about the state church."=20
Grosboell responded by saying he was puzzled.=20
"Basically, I can only say that I still don't understand what she =
means and=20
talks about," he told The Associated Press, adding there was "nothing =
concrete"=20
in her order. He did not deny giving the sermon.=20
AP-ES-06-10-04 1201EDT This story can be found at: <A=20
href=3D"http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB3XL62BVD.html">http://ap.tbo.com=
/ap/breaking/MGB3XL62BVD.html</A> 
<LI><A href=3D"javascript:history.back()">Go Back To The Story</A>=20
</LI></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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