More People Quit Lutheran Church
An increasing number of people resigned from the Evangelical Lutheran Church last year. Resignations have gone up in several dioceses in larger towns and cities, according to the Church Research Institute.
Nearly 30,000 people resigned from the state-supported church last year, 152 people more than in the previous year.
Some of the resignations are attributable to the Freedom of Religion Act which came into effect two years ago.
The reform allows members of congregations to quit straight away, instead of having to wait a month for a resignation to take effect. Resignation can now be done without a personal visit to a district office.
Another reason for quitting could be financial, the Institute said. Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church have to pay at least one percent of their income in parish tax.
Nearly 85 percent of the Finns are members of the Lutheran Church, one of two state-supported churches.
Latest in: News
Finnair, cabin crew reps continue transfer talks
Negotiations crash landed Wednesday over the disputed transfer of cabin crew to joint venture airline Flybe Nordic as part of a transfer of loss-making European routes and aircraft to the budget airline. The parties resume talks Friday.
Amnesty raps Finland over treatment of asylum-seekers
Amnesty International has criticized dozens of states for human rights abuses. In its latest annual report, the human rights group also rapped Finland for its accelerated asylum procedures, which include forced returns to Baghdad.
PM grilled over proposed Iceland operation
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen again Thursday denied claims that a proposal for Finnish participation in joint Nordic patrolling of Iceland's airspace is intended to ease Finland into NATO.
Young Designer of the Year 2012 - Linda Bergroth and OK Do
Design Forum Finland's Young Designer of the Year Prize of 2012 has gone to designer Linda Bergroth and the arts/design collective OK Do.
Finland sees increase in UV radiation
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure in Finland has risen ten percent in the past decade. While the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) can’t pinpoint why this is happening, scientists have shown that a thin ozone layer results in more harmful UV rays reaching the earth’s surface.
Ronald McDonald kidnapper goes to court
Fast food giant McDonald’s is suing a Finnish artist and three accomplices for kidnapping Ronald McDonald, the burger empire’s clown mascot.
Human trafficking probe in Åland Islands
Police in the semi-autonomous maritime province of Åland are investigating a case in which a man who withheld his employee’s salary is suspected of human trafficking.
Aho: Euro cannot survive in current form
Europe today could use lessons learnt during Finland’s recession in the 1990s, says then-premier and current Nokia leadership team member Esko Aho.
Mystery motorist sows fear among children
Police in Kanta-Häme are asking for eyewitnesses to help solve a baffling series of traffic crimes.
Finnair pilots reach deal over Flybe transfers
Finnair has still not reached agreement with its cabin crew staff over a planned transfer to some workers to Flybe Nordic, a joint venture with the British airline Flybe.
Discuss this topic
0 comments
Thank you. Your message has been sent to Yle News. We publish comments between 9 AM and 5 PM.
Yle News reads all comments before publishing, and we reserve the right to edit long comments. Inappropriate comments will not be published.
Thank you. Your report has been sent to Yle News. We review the reports between 9 AM and 5 PM.
Yle News will review the comment you reported and will delete it if necessary.