Kyrkogångsplikt

(literally 'church attendance duty') was the legal obligation of the population in Sweden to attend weekly Mass.

The legal obligation to attend church was abolished in Sweden with the 1809 Instrument of Government, but continued in Finland for some time. At the same time, the formal compulsion to take communion ended. The abolition the same marked a step towards religious freedom in Sweden, a Christian state where Lutheranism (Church of Sweden) was the state church until 2000.

Though no longer binding by civil law in Scandinavia, the attendance of Mass on the Lord's Day (Sunday) is enjoined by the tenets of the Evangelical Lutheran Christian faith. The Evangelical Lutheran theologian stated that church attendance is the "foundation for the Christian life" as "the Christian Bible and the sacraments provide the framework for the faith"; he also states that it is important for believers because it aids in the prevention of backsliding, as well as offers "the company of other believers". The Large Catechism holds the Lord's Day to be reserved for the public worship of God, including the preaching of the Gospel:

See also

Conventicle Act (Sweden) – law outlawing religious meetings other than those of the state church Kyrkoplikt – a historical form of punishment

References

Citations

Bibliography

Sammanfattning ur Staten och trossamfunden, Rättslig reglering (SOU 1997:41)