New Danish government wants to protect Christian heritage

The new coalition, which reached an agreement last week, emphasises the importance of Christianity for Denmark. It states in its coalition agreement that the Evangelical Lutheran Church has a special status as a folk church and promises that it will maintain this position. "We want one folk church which is based on freedom, equality and inclusiveness", the document states. At the same time, the government adds that religious freedom is essential "as long as it is done with full respect for the right of others to do the same."

The new Danish government is led by the social democrat Mette Frederiksen. Other parties that joined the coalition are the Conservative Liberals, and the Moderates, Vart Land reports.

Members

The coalition's view that Denmark is a Christian country can be interpreted in several ways, says Lene Kühle to Vart Land. She is a sociologist of religion at Aarhus University in Denmark. According to Kühle, the statement can be understood as the government saying something about who the Danes are. Another interpretation is that the government wants to emphasise that it wants to preserve the Danish culture, which is based on Christian values, she says. Or it is also possible that the government wants to assert the message that it will maintain the special status of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which almost three-quarters of the Danes are members.

Kühle thinks that the coalition agreement shows that the Social Democrats are taking "important steps when it comes to recognising religion's place in society."