Predikstolens frihet och frihetens gränser: En studie av domkapitelsärenden om prästers predikningar och undervisning

Abstract

Freedom of preaching: Cathedral chapters evaluation of freedom and its limits

The notion of “freedom of preaching” (actually “freedom of the pulpit”) has been used in the Church of Sweden to describe the idea that a priest has the right to preach freely, without the fear of sanctions from authorities. However, this notion is not mentioned in either the Swedish church order or in church law.

In the Church of Sweden, cathedral chapters are the instance handling supervisory matters about priests. If a priest has expressed him- or herself inappropriately on one or several occasions, the matter may be taken up in a conversation with the vicar or the bishop and usually does not result in a penalty. If there is a written notification, or the bishop is not content with the conversation, the cathedral chapter will treat the matter However, a penalty may be relevant if a priest misbehaves in several ways, including through their preaching. Cathedral chapter decisions about penalties for priests who have expressed themselves inappropriately just once are known to have been cancelled by a superior instance of the Church of Sweden.

In conclusion, there is no absolute “freedom of preaching” in the Church of Sweden. There are limits to what a priest may say in a sermon. Penalties – such as a written remark or a three-year probation period – are sometimes imposed if a priest misbehaves in several ways. The priest may also lose his/her authority to practise the ministry.