March 2022 Church & State Magazine

Jehovah’s Witnesses Lose Tax Funding In Norway

  Jehovah’s Witnesses Lose Tax Funding In Norway

Government officials in Norway have decided to deny tax funding to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, arguing that some of the religious group’s practices are troubling.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church was Norway’s state church for hundreds of years. That status was officially dropped in 2012, but the church still receives tax funding, as do other religious groups that can prove they have at least 50 members. Jehovah’s Witnesses have been receiving state support for 30 years.

Norwegian officials apparently acted against the Witnesses because they are troubled by the group’s practice of disfellowship; i.e., severing contact with people who leave the church.

Church officials say their practices have been misunderstood, and they plan to appeal the ruling.

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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