Thousands quit Church of Denmark after atheist campaign

Thousands of people have cancelled their membership of Denmark’s state Church following a campaign by atheists. Nearly 3,000 baptised cancelled their membership last month after Denmark’s Atheist Society, Ateistisk Selskab, launched a nationwide campaign advising people they could save money by opting out.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark is among several Churches in Europe subsidised by a Church tax. Although the tax is voluntary in Denmark, at a rate of around one per cent, Church members are automatically signed up and have to opt out rather than opt in. FULL REPORT