For the first time in history, Swedish female priests outnumber their male counterparts, 60 years after they were first allowed to don the clerical collar, the Church of Sweden said Wednesday. Of the 3,060 priests currently serving in Sweden, 1,533 are female, or 50.1%, according to Cristina Grenholm, secretary for the Church of Sweden. Unlike the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church of Sweden has allowed female priests since 1958 and first ordained three women in 1960. However, there is a wage gap between male and female pastors — averaging 2,200 Swedish kronor ($248 or 215 euros) per month according to the church’s newspaper Kyrkans Tidning. In Sweden, ministers in the Church of Sweden have the title of priest, while those serving in parishes outside the former State Church are referred to as pastors.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 23, 2020 09:45 UTC