In recent days, Aftonbladet has reported on attempts at conversion in Swedish free churches.
We can now reveal that many of the parishes receive millions in government grants.
– It is deplorable, says Isak Reichel, head of the authority for support to religious communities.
It is the Ministry of Culture that decides which denominations are to receive grants each year. In 2021, a total of one hundred million kronor was distributed.
The law on support for religious communities states that unions must uphold “the basic values on which society rests” in order to be entitled to support, but Aftonbladet’s review shows that several free churches and other religious communities attempt to convert LGBTQ people.
– Of course, a tax crown should not go to an organization that violates the principle of equal value for all people, says Minister of Culture Jeanette Gustafsdotter (S) in a written comment to Aftonbladet.
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About the review
Read more “Enough to lose grants”
The authority for support to religious communities does not decide who should receive support, but they are responsible for ensuring that the dividend is paid correctly. Isak Reichel is head of the authority and says that the grants could have been withdrawn if the law looked different.
He also says that the authority will take a closer look at the communities after Aftonbladet’s review.
– The government has submitted a new proposal for a new law. If it comes into force, this could be enough to lose state subsidies, he says.
“Easier to deprive community support”
The law on support for religious communities is considered unclear and therefore an SOU, a state public inquiry, was appointed in 2018 to clarify it.
– It was difficult for the courts to interpret the law and difficult for the communities to understand what was expected of them, whether they could receive support or not, says Ulf Bjereld, S-labeled professor of political science and chairman of the SOU.
Jeanette Gustafsdotter also writes about the possible change in the law in her answer to Aftonbladet:
“The government has recently presented new democratic conditions that are proposed to enter into force on 1 January 2023. The new conditions make it clear that no society that discriminates, coerces or violates the principle of equal value for all people should be able to receive state support. All denominations that receive support will then be tested against the new conditions. It will also be easier to deprive communities of support. ”
All congregations except one of those examined by Aftonbladet received grants in 2021. Jehovah’s Witnesses received a total of SEK 2.3 million and the Pentecostal church just over SEK 11 million.
Votes in June
– The first reaction is that it is terrible that this is happening within the existing faith communities. You get sad, says Isak Reichel, head of the authority for support for religious communities.
The audited congregations themselves believe that they follow basic values, even though they have expressed contempt for homosexuals.
– We do not believe that people can be happy in that way simply. God does not force anyone, but if you want to be a Christian, you have to accept what God says. But it is a completely different thing to bully people, says a pastor in Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The SOU that Ulf Bjereld was chairman of became a bill. The report has been submitted for consultation and in June the Riksdag will vote on whether the investigation will become law.
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Conversion therapy
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