Preben Eskildsen, the editor and owner of the local Jutland newspaper Vesthimmerlands Folkeblad, circulation 10,000, has said he will not write any articles about same-sex marriage.

Christian Roar Pedersen, a vicar and the spokesperson for the Aalborg diocese emailed newspapers in northern Jutland, urging them to write about the new marriage rights for gay couples.

Pedersen shared Eskildsen’s response with tv2nord.dk

“I can write whatever the hell I want to about gay marriage, but it is wrong and I will not waste space on it,” wrote Eskildsen.

Pedersen was shaken by the editor’s response.

“It is a big problem if members of the press decide not to write about certain topics,” said Pedersen to tv2nord.dk. “It is a problem for democracy that he will not write about what he disagrees with."

Pedersen was especially troubled by Eskildsen’s suggestion that the church minister, Manu Sareen (Radikale) – who was born in India – should “go back where he came from”.

“I felt his comment bordered on being racist, and I didn’t like it, so I decided to come forward,” said Pedersen.

Eskildsen said that as the owner of Vesthimmerlands’ Folkeblad, he has the right to refuse to write about topics he does not support.

“I am very much against gay marriage in the Church of Denmark and I think that the church minister is interfering in something he should not meddle in," Eskildsen told tv2nord.dk.