In a letter to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Minister for Church Affairs Joy Mogensen, issued on 26 January 2021, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) has expressed deep concern regarding the new suggested initiative on compulsory translation of sermons from other languages into Danish.

In the letter, CEC President Rev. Christian Krieger and CEC General Secretary Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen have highlighted, how historically, CEC Member Churches have been creating positive impact by encouraging the use of mother tongue in religious contexts, assisting migrants to join and form communities that support and help them navigate societal contexts of which they are now part.

“Politically, CEC sees such legislation as an unreasonably negative signal in relation to religion and the role of religious communities in society. Furthermore, it would be an indicator to non-Danish, European nations and Christian communities that their religious practise and presence in Denmark is questioned and deemed unequivocally problematic,” reads the letter.