Old Catholic Church ready to bless same-sex partnerships in church ceremony

The Old Catholic Church in Czechia has announced that it is ready to bless same-sex partnerships in a church ceremony. This should be possible as of the beginning of 2025 when an amendment to the Civil Code will come into force allowing same-sex couples to enter into a partnership with most of the rights given to heterosexual couples. The Old Catholic Church, established in 1877, is the first church in the Czech Republic to publicly declare its intention to “marry” same-sex couples in a church ceremony. Last year, in another break with tradition, it ordained two women as priests.

The newly-approved amendment to the law gave same sex partners many new rights, but stopped short of calling same-sex partnerships a marriage.