Funeral associations and burial issues
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
S will move for approval of the committee's proposal and thus rejection of the motions regarding religious communities and burial issues 1. S considers it a societal problem that religious communities are denied insurance due to threat images, which makes them hesitate to report incidents to the police 1. S argues that there is no reason to push for a declaration of state insurance coverage as the work is ongoing 1. S considers that it may be time for a new broad investigation regarding the burial system since the last one was conducted 18–20 years ago 1.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Per-Arne Håkansson (S)
Mr. Speaker! I want to begin by highlighting the words dignity and respect, two terms that for my part have been guiding in the preparatory work for the report before us, the Committee on the Constitution's report 23, Trossamfund and burial issues.
A large part of the content is characterized by questions concerning how people are met and treated, both in relation to different faiths and religions as well as in different stages of life and also as deceased persons. In the report, the committee deals with seven motions from the general motion period. They concern state aid with the church fee, a state insurance protection for religious communities, the burial fee, burial sites for different religious groups, the conditions for funeral directors and also the time limit for cremation. I hereby motion for approval of the committee's proposals in the report and thereby rejection of the motions.
I would like to take this opportunity to explain the background to some of the positions. One concerns state insurance coverage for religious communities. In a motion, an announcement is proposed regarding state insurance coverage for religious communities that are denied insurance by private companies because there is a threat or other security risk. According to the mover, it occurs that insurance premiums are raised significantly or that insurance is completely denied when premises have previously been subjected to threats or vandalism. This in turn leads to a number of congregations and communities hesitating to report incidents to the police for fear of further complicating their insurance terms.
I have personally encountered similar arguments in meetings with representatives of religious communities, most recently in connection with a visit quite recently to Helsingborg's newly opened mosque near the northern entrance. It is, as I see it, a social problem to take seriously and monitor. People should be able to practice their faith in safety.
Ultimately, it is about the communities' opportunities to conduct a long-term oriented activity. From the previous handling of a similar motion, I have understood that the Agency for Support to Religious Communities monitored the issue. That agency has now been transferred to the Agency for Youth and Civil Society Issues, which continues to handle the issues. With reference to the fact that work is ongoing, we in the committee have not pushed forward and seen reason to back a declaration. There is, however, reason to follow up and have a continued continuous monitoring of these issues.
Mr. Speaker! A motion from the Center Party addresses the issue of a review of competition within the funeral services. The Church of Sweden is, as is known, the principal authority for funeral services, with the exception of two municipalities in Sweden – Stockholm and Tranås. This has nothing to do with the separation between church and state 25 years ago, but lies further back in time.
The motion focuses on whether the Church of Sweden sets aside competition in certain places when individual parishes start their own business-oriented funeral homes, which occurs in some parts of the country. This issue has been taken up by the Competition Authority, which has also submitted a number of recommendations and proposals. The Committee notes that the Church Assembly recently addressed the issue of church funeral homes and that the Competition Authority, in a letter to the Government, has suggested that the design of a regulation for the operation of such funeral homes should be investigated.
Another issue that has been highlighted, and which concerns funerals, is the prolonged time from death to funeral in Sweden compared to other countries. In an interpellation debate with Minister for Church Affairs Jakob Forssmed, I raised the question that it might be time for a new, broad investigation into the funeral industry. The last one was carried out 18–20 years ago, and much has happened in the area since then.
Based on the reasoning I have presented to representatives from both religious communities, the funeral industry, and voluntary organizations, the idea is raised and it is suggested that one perhaps should consider the possibilities for an investigation in the future. It is a message to the government. In such a long-term issue that in one way or another affects all people at different stages of life, it is of importance to have unity across party lines.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.