Christian Children's Magazine “AMEN” Refused Entry to Latvia's “Honorary Family” Programme
The publisher of Latvia's Christian children's magazine “AMEN” was refused participation in the state “Honorary Family” programme for large families. The refusal has sparked debate over whether the publisher was wrongly grouped with “esotericism representatives”.
The publisher of the Christian children's magazine “AMEN” in Latvia has been denied participation in the “Honorary Family” programme, which offers discounts to families with many children. The programme is run by the Society Integration Foundation (SIF), a state administrative body. Publisher representative Aija Balode made the refusal public, and it has prompted online discussion.
The publisher's proposal
The publisher wanted to let large families buy the magazine at half price. To ensure only such families received the discount, buyers would have entered their Honorary Family card number. Balode stresses that the arrangement would not have been financially beneficial for the publisher and that profit was not the aim.
Grounds for refusal
In its reply, the programme thanked the publisher for wanting to support families but rejected cooperation, citing its principles and the publisher's activities and the focus of the magazine. Those principles state that the programme does not work with producers and sellers of alcohol and tobacco, gambling organisers, or “representatives of the esoteric field and other like-minded parties”. Balode concludes that the publisher was placed in the last group. The publisher explained that it has no link to esotericism: its representatives are traditional Christians who cooperate with the Roman Catholic Church in Latvia.
Baiba Gaile, who wrote to the programme on the publisher's behalf, clarifies that nobody explicitly said the refusal was related to esotericism, but that she received no more specific justification.
Reactions
Lawyer Kaspars Herbsts notes that SIF may act only within the framework set by legislation, and advises submitting a formal request asking it to justify the refusal with a specific legal provision. Alina Ozolina, board member of the association “Asociācija Ģimene”, cites a survey in which religion is important to almost half of parents in families with five or more children. Antonija Skopa urges that the matter be resolved through dialogue rather than conflict.
