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Norwegian Pentacostals: – We are not persecuted

– We find no theological justification for using physical violence as punishment when children do something wrong.

– We find that Norwegian authorities, including the Child Protection Service, treat various religious groups in a fair and professional manner. We have no reason to believe that we are treated differently than other groups based on our faith, write the head of the Leader Council of the pentecostal movement of Norway, Sigmund Kristoffersen and spokesman Andreas Hegertun in a statement.

In November last year the Norwegian Child Protection Service (CPS) removed the five children of a Norwegian-Romanian couple from their home in the county of Sogn og Fjordane in western Norway.

International interest

Shortly after claims arose from supporters of the pentecostal couple, that the CPS' reason for removing the children was fear of religious indoctrination. The claim is repeated in a petition that has gathered more than 50.000 signatures from around the world. The campaign was initiated by a Romanian pastor of a Pentecostal church in Chicago in the US.

Before Christmas Norwegian police charged the couple for domestic violence. In an interview with the Romanian TV channel Antena 3 the couple admitted that there have been incidents of corporal punishment.

Religious practice

Several of the pastors supporting the couple argue that corporal punishment is part of a Christian upbringing, and that the CPS violated religious freedom by taking the children away on the grounds of what the pastors view as religious practice.

Pentecostals in Norway reject this theology.

- The Church is to convey God's unconditional love for children, and we find no theological justification for using physical violence as punishment when children do something wrong. On the contrary – at a time when it was common to put the kids aside, Jesus took them on his lap. This and many other Bible quotations show the respect and love God has for each child, Kristoffersen and Hegertun write in the press release.

No contact

Sigmund Kristoffersen, has not been contacted by any of the parties.

- If this really is religious persecution, I find it odd that we have not been contacted for assistance or to clarify the matter, he said to Vårt Land.

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