NORWAY
The Local
Norway is claiming 4.6 million euros ($5.1 million) compensation from the Catholic church for
The diocese, its bishop and the financial officer are suspected of fraudulently registering thousands of people on its membership lists between 2010 and 2014, which enabled it to obtain 50 million kroner (more than $6.0 million or 5.8 million euros) in state subsidies.
Norway’s church denies engaging in fraud but has admitted its past methods were “unsatisfactory.”
In Norway, a predominantly Protestant country, the state provides subsidies to organised religions, the size of which is determined by the number of members.
The Dagbladet daily, which first broke the story, said the diocese had received a letter from the administration on Monday calling for the 40.6 million kroner overpayment to be refunded.
A spokeswoman for the diocese, Lisa Wade, confirmed the contents of the letter. She told AFP that the church would not be paying the sum and would take the matter up with the culture ministry.
“We have a very different understanding of the law,” she said. “It’s complex. It’s not like it’s a clear-cut case.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.