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'''FIGURE 21. Danderyd Hospital, outside of Stockholm (U/OU)''' (photo)

provincial council. This institution, which is probably the most modern and best equipped of the general hospitals in Sweden, was originally constructed in 1917-22 with a capacity of 118 beds. It was subsequently enlarged and rebuilt mostly under a program begun in 1956; its total capacity was increased to 950 beds by 1970. This hospital handles patient data in a highly developed computer communications system; its Univac computer stores data on 1.4 million people. The complex of buildings in attractive rural surroundings includes a 14-story "skyscraper," postoperative recovery and intensive care sections with up-to-date accessories, such as television screens in an observation room to enable the staff to watch the patients, psychiatric clinics, an ophthalmic clinic with a special unit for treatment of children with eye squint (some 200,000 Swedes suffer from this defect), a recreation room, swimming pool, and sports hall. In 1966, 21.2% of the hospitals were operated by the central government, 70.5% by the provinces, 1.6% by local authorities, 5% by private enterprises, and 1.8% by health funds and associations. The private hospitals are small and have bed capacities of fewer than 100.

G. Religion

Religious homogeneity, as well as ethnic and linguistic homogeneity, has contributed importantly to the cohesiveness and stability of Swedish society. The Constitution of 1809 established the Evangelical Lutheran faith as the official religion and the Church of Sweden as the state church. All Swedish citizens are members of this church by virtue of their citizenship, unless they are born to parents who do not belong, or unless they exercise their right to join another church. About 94% of the population are nominal adherents of the Church of Sweden, but only 3% or 4% from among this group attend church regularly. Approximately 5% of the population are members and regular communicants of the Protestant "free" churches. Thus, about 10% of all Swedes (counting the handful of Roman Catholics and other faiths) attend religious services every Sunday, while perhaps one-fifth attend church at least once a month. Even in comparison with most other Western European countries, this is low church attendance, and very low when compared with church attendance in the United States. Nearly all Swedes, however, have their children baptized and confirmed in the church; probably more than 90% of the population approve of the present practice of giving religious instruction (Christian but not denominational) in the public schools, and fewer than 10% favor the disestablishment of the state church. Also, religious fulfillment may be achieved by means other than frequent church attendance. For example, many people listen more or less regularly to church services and devotional programs on radio and television, and the total number of religious broadcasts (about 1,200 a year) is thought to be higher in Sweden than in any other European country.

1. The Church of Sweden

a. Organization and activities

For administrative purposes the Church of Sweden is divided into 13 dioceses, 179 rural deaneries, 1,148 pastorates or rectorial districts, and 2,566 parishes. The highest authority is the Church Assembly, which is under the chairmanship of the Archbishop of Sweden. The assembly, which is called into session by the King at least once every 5 years, comprises 30 pastors and 57 laymen, in addition to the Archbishop and the 13 bishops, who are members by virtue of their office. Each diocese selects two pastors, and the national universities at Uppsala and Lund each name two theological professors as representatives. The laymen are selected by the legislative bodies of the local parishes through an indirect electoral system. The archbishop is the ceremonial head of the Church of Sweden and spokesman for it in relations with the national government and other churches. He also invests the bishops in office, but his only direct power over them is the legal obligation to "warn" a bishop who is "neglecting his work." He is selected in theory by the King and in practice by the cabinet from one of the three candidates who have received the largest number of votes from the Cathedral Chapter and the Council of Pastors of each diocese.

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