Børre Knudsen
Børre Arnold Knudsen (1937–2014) was a Norwegian Lutheran priest noted for his anti-abortion activism. Together with Ludvig Nessa, he staged protests at abortion clinics as well as other public stunts starting in the late 1980s, and he spent time in jail for refusing to pay fines received for his protests.
Børre Knudsen | |
|---|---|
Knudsen as bishop of the Deanery of Strandebarm, the "Church of Norway in Exile" | |
| Born | Børre Arnold Knudsen 24 September 1937 Vennesla, Norway |
| Died | 17 August 2014 (aged 76) Balsfjord, Norway |
| Known for | Anti-abortion activism |
| Spouse |
Ragnhild Knudsen (m. 1964) |
| Religion | Christianity (Lutheran) |
| Church | |
| Ordained |
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| Laicized | 2001 (Church of Norway) |
Dismissed as parish priest of Balsfjord in 1983 due to his refusal to perform his official state duties in protest against new abortion laws, he helped establish the Deanery of Strandebarm in 1991, also known as the "Church of Norway in Exile". He was ordained as bishop by the church in 1997 until retiring in 2008 due to failing health. He was defrocked from the Church of Norway in 2001.
Knudsen was also noted as a prolific hymn poet, and two of his hymns has later been included in the Norwegian hymn book, as well as the hymn books of other churches.