Human-Etisk Forbund, one of Norway’s largest secular-humanist organizations with over 190,000 members, is calling for a full government-led review of membership registries across all religious and life-stance communities following investigative reports by VG regarding involuntary memberships. Heidi Nordby Lunde, head of societal relations for the organization, stated that registration must require explicit consent and called for verified digital identification methods like BankID for state funding eligibility.
Calls for Registry Overhauls and BankID Verification
VG’s reporting revealed that multiple faith and life-stance communities received state financial support for individuals registered as members without their knowledge or consent. In response, Human-Etisk Forbund proposed an independent, one-time cleanup of all membership lists within a strict deadline, accompanied by mandatory direct notifications to all registered individuals. Nordby Lunde argued that the current system undermines transparent organizations that voluntarily implement rigorous verification protocols. To secure state funding, Human-Etisk Forbund wants the government to mandate verified enrollment using tools like BankID or equivalent systems across all religious communities and the Church of Norway. The organization also recommends granting Statsforvalteren (the State Administrator) authority to conduct random audits, enforcing mandatory repayments for unearned subsidies, and restricting personal identification number access for organizations lacking documented enrollments.
Political Reactions and Government Response
Several political parties registered sharp objections to the discoveries of false membership funding, prompting immediate demands for legislative reform. Minister of Children and Families Lene Vågslid confirmed that the government has initiated a review of regulatory frameworks and oversight mechanisms. Vågslid praised the investigative work published by VG, noting in an email statement that her ministry is actively examining whether current rules and controls require tightening to prevent future registry abuses.
Internal Technical Errors Discovered at Human-Ethical Association
While advocating for external oversight, Human-Etisk Forbund identified internal technical flaws within its own systems after two former members reported that their departures had gone unrecorded. The organization traced the issue to an undetected technical glitch that left departing members trapped in the active registry. Human-Etisk Forbund notified the Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) and contacted Statsforvalteren on September 25 to arrange the repayment of approximately 60,000 kroner in unjustified state subsidies. Nordby Lunde emphasized that returning the funds was necessary because freedom of conscience is a core principle of the movement, and the organization refuses to accept financial support tied to individuals who do not wish to maintain membership.
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