To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

'Like Medieval Times': Finnish Politician Prosecuted For Biblical Views Reacts to 'Crazy' Trial, Issues Warning

Billy Hallowell : Sep 18, 2023  CBN News

"I pray that this would wake up Christians to be courageous, to be open about their faiths and worship. [I hope] it would also encourage people to read the Bible, and, so I, I pray for awakening of our society." -Dr. Päivi Räsänen

(Finland) — [CBN News] A Finnish politician who recently faced her second trial for sharing her Biblical views on sexuality described her legal nightmare as "absurd," "crazy," and akin to "medieval times." (Screengrab image)

"It was absurd and it was crazy that I had to defend the Biblical truths and my interpretation about the Bible, my faith, and my beliefs in front of the judges," Dr. Päivi Räsänen, the embattled member of Finland’s parliament, told CBN’s Faithwire of her recently completed trial. "It is like in medieval times."

Räsänen said the prosecutor gave "false statements" about her writings and comments, claiming Räsänen had "said that some people are inferior to others"—something the politicians said is patently untrue.

"I think that all people are equal," Räsänen said. "We all are sinners; we all are ... in need of grace, what Jesus has given, but the prosecutor was very stubborn with these arguments, even though the district court had already said that they didn’t find such statements in my writings or in my pamphlet."

She added, "But the prosecutor said that it is not important if it is true or not, but if the interpretation is insulting, then it is criminal."

Räsänen explained why she believes the entire ordeal is truly "dangerous," explaining why the government’s role in defining truth and morality is so concerning.

"It is not a court that should decide what is the right interpretation of the Bible and what is not," she said. "Because I think that this kind of interpretation of discussions ... it is not the court who starts to teach about the Bible or discuss what is the right interpretation of the Bible."

Prosecutors also reportedly argued there are many Protestant churches that accept gay marriage and same-sex relationships, thus underscoring Räsänen’s views.

As CBN’s Faithwire has reported, Räsänen’s plight began June 17, 2019, when she tweeted the text of Romans 1:24-27, which condemns homosexuality as sinful. She was alarmed over a decision by her denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, to support an LGBTQ Pride event, so she responded by sharing Scripture on her X account, sparking a criminal complaint.

Then, a pamphlet detailing Biblical views on sexuality she wrote nearly 20 years ago and a radio interview also landed her in legal hot water, culminating in a trial last year. She was acquitted in the first legal battle before the prosecutor appealed and she ended up back in court again in the most recent legal debacle.

In the latest trial, Räsänen said the prosecutor argued she’s allowed to "believe in her mind whatever about the Bible, but it is illegal to express it outwardly."

A verdict is expected by the end of November.

"The maximum punishment would be two years of jail, but the prosecutor is demanding a heavy fine—the heaviest fine that we have in our law," Räsänen said. "The most dangerous consequence of this case [is the] censorship ... because then it would have some big consequences to our freedoms."

The politician, Finland’s former minister of the interior, the leader responsible for overseeing the very police who came to interrogate her, said the most shocking part of the court case was being labeled as hateful.

"Of course, it was very painful to be accused [of] hate speech—of hatred against some people, because I think that these opinions, these views, they do not rise from hatred, but from love," Räsänen said. "They are something that is ... from what is classical Christianity, what is taught in classical Christianity about humanity and sexuality."

Räsänen believes the Bible is on trial in Finland, despite the fact the nation has freedom of faith and speech enshrined in its constitution.

If she loses, she believes, it could reverberate throughout Finnish culture.

"It would start the time of persecution of Christians in Finland, if I would be convicted," Räsänen said. "Many lawyers agree with me, and then it would have ... ramifications to other European countries."

As Räsänen awaits her verdict, she encouraged Christians to see her plight as an inspiration to stand up and share their views. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

"I pray that this would wake up Christians to be courageous, to be open about their faiths and worship," she said. "[I hope] it would also encourage people to read the Bible, and, so I, I pray for awakening of our society."

Billy Hallowell writes for CBN's Faithwire.com.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Why the New RomCom ‘MERV’ Can Bring You Joy This Christmas

How the 'Heavens Declare the Glory of God': What One Man's Research Has Revealed about The Star of Bethlehem

Over 50 Tren de Aragua Gang Members Imported Under Democrats Indicted in Nebraska in Massive Nationwide ATM Jackpotting Scheme

205 Child Victims Located and Rescued in DOJ Sex Exploitation Op

Trump Admin Pausing All Off Shore Wind Project Construction Due To National Security Concerns

Trump Grants Federal Workers Two Additional Christmas Holidays

America Fest 2025: Erika Kirk Endorses 'My Husband's Friend' JD Vance for President

Brent Bozell Confirmed as US Ambassador to South Africa

Jury Quickly Convicts Judge Who Helped Illegal Migrant Escape ICE

Feds Estimate Somali-Linked Fraud in Walz's Minnesota Could Top $9 Billion

Trump SUSPENDS 'Green Card Lottery' after Program Let Brown University–MIT Shooting Suspect Enter the US

Brown, MIT Shooter Found Dead for Days in NH Storage Unit; Motive Still a Mystery

House Passes Bill to Criminalize Transgender Mutilation of Children

November Inflation Falls to 2.7%, Lower than Expected: 'This Is Good News for Wall Street; It’s Good News for Main Street'

MOVIEGUIDE's Review of the New Animated Film: DAVID

Massachusetts Drops Controversial Gender Ideology Mandate for Licensing Foster Care Parents

Nearly 40% of Women Suffer Severe Grief for Years after Abortion, Miscarriage: Study

Former Pfizer Vice President: COVID Shots Were 'Designed to Cause Injury,' Reduce Fertility

Dutch Sheets Shares a Warning from the US National Counterterrorism Center

Venezuela: Trump's Pressure Campaign and Maduro's Fury



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com