"I am, of course, not pleased that the law has been passed," says the leader of Norsk Luthersk Misjonssamband (Norwegian Lutheran Mission Alliance), Espen Ottesen.

I am sceptical to the legislation itself, which among other things says that the church will have the right, although not a duty, to marry homosexual couples.

"This could quickly become chaos because there are mixed opinions within the church on how it should view marriage ceremonies ," he says.

Ottesen thinks that Norway has developed in the wrong direction throughout recent decades when it comes to liberal cohabitation laws.

"This law is just one among several that leads our society further away from a Christian understanding. We think that, for example registered cohabitation, which was made legal in 1972, and which is the most usual cohabitation form for young people, has also contributed to instability in the traditional form for marital life between a man and a woman.

"I think that the best thing for children and adults is that sexuality is experienced within a faithful marital situation between a man and a woman," he says.

The leader of the National Association for Lesbian and Homosexual Emancipation (LLH), Arve Andersen, is on the other hand very satisfied with the decision.

"This is an important day for us. At last, we have the same rights that heterosexuals take for granted," he says.

Andersen thinks that the legislation is also important when it comes to children's rights. Assisted fertilization ensures the same rights for example for children in lesbian relationships as those in heterosexual ones.

Andersen doesn't fear that the church may oppose the decision.

"I am sure that many priests would marry homosexual couples," he says.

Bishop Ernst Baasland thinks that the passing of the new law appears to have been hurried, and lacking in serious examination.

"In France, for example, they had several years of examination into the matter, and arrived at the standpoint that they wouldn't introduce a new marraige law. In Norway, it seems that the decision has been made very quickly, and without great discussion. I find that strange," he says.

Baasland thinks the arrangement will influence our understanding of marriage.

"The church can't be involved in such an arrangement. Homosexual rights are one thing, but it's quite something else to have a universal marriage law with huge implications, just to mention biotechnology and adoption," says the bishop.