Weddings

Yesterday, I was interviewed for an internet broadcast on weddings (mtv3.fi/haat). The statistics say that some 60% of all weddings in Finland are celebrated according to the rites of the Lutheran Church. In addition, some 10% of the remaining civil weddings will have a church blessing.

I was surprised to find out that a second interviewee had been invited to the studio in order to represent civil weddings. There should have been no reason for a surprise had this person been an employee of a local magistrate or some other judicial body whose task it is to perform weddings. However, she represented a private company called Pro Seremonia, a firm founded by some anti-church and anti-religion associations.

You can see how the scene appeared. There is the church wedding (60%+) and then there is this other option, the civil wedding. Dear viewers, let's have a poll and find out what you think!

Of course, the Pro Seremonia person was in no position to represent people who choose civil weddings. After all, Pro Seremonia is a company selling their services to maybe a few dozen or hundred couples each year. No wonder, the lady was hesitant to give exact numbers. But the point is, the young and inexperienced reporter had no idea of what she had done. And I, naturally, had no choice but to adapt to the situation the best I could. Given these premises, I think the outcome was ok.

The funny thing was that the anti-church lady clearly had problems in keeping her composure. Church representatives and the active anti-church lobby rarely meet on even ground. She may have had wild ideas about what pastors represent. Or maybe they pump themselves up in (self)righteous wrath in their meetings, who knows. When we departed, I couldn't help saying "blessings". She was shocked and muttered, "Can I not receive that...?" Was she afraid that I put a spell on her?

After all, I think it was good that we met. This will be the scene more and more in the future. The younger generation clearly have no idea about and respect for the special place of the Church in our society. This brings the Church down from its pedestal. And it is always good for the church to be on the ground, fighting for its true identity.