Priest in Iceland faces possible criminal charges for upholding Church’s moral teachings
Caroline MolloyA Catholic priest in Iceland is facing possible criminal charges after defending Catholic teaching that people engaged in same-sex relationships should not receive the Eucharist. Authorities have argued his remarks could violate the country’s 2023 law banning so-called “conversion therapy.”
According to Catholic World Report, critics of Father Jakob Rolland, chancellor of the Catholic Church in Iceland, claim the Catholic Church aims to “convert” people’s sexual orientations. They argue that its — moral teaching and its guidelines for receiving the Eucharist — could amount to “conversion therapy” under the law when applied to LGBT-identifying individuals.
Iceland’s 2025 annual review notes that the country’s parliament, the Althingi, passed legislation June 9, 2023 banning “conversion therapy.”
The bill read: “Whoever, by force, deception or threats, induces an individual to undergo treatment for the purpose of suppressing or changing his or her sexuality, gender identity or gender expression shall be liable to imprisonment for up to 3 years.”
The legislation further defines “conversion therapy” as “when people are subjected to treatment to suppress and change their sexuality, gender identity or gender expression.”
Critics argue that Fr. Rolland’s remarks during a March 2 interview were defiant and reflect what they claim is an effort by the Catholic Church to “convert” the sexual orientation of Icelanders, even without conventional therapy, according to the outlet.
RÚV also reported that police intend to review the remarks Fr. Rolland made in the interview with the outlet to determine whether a criminal investigation is warranted.
In the interview, Fr. Rolland framed the issue within the broader Christian understanding of conversion and moral transformation.
“Sexual orientation,” Fr. Rolland said, according to the outlet, “is only one factor among many that concern an individual’s tendencies towards some lifestyle that is not good for the individual and not good for society. And ‘conversion’—change of heart—this is a key word in the daily life of Catholic people. We are constantly in the position of turning away from what is evil towards what is good.”
