Finland Leader Making International Waves with Pro-Life Proclamations

Teresa Neumann : Sep 11, 2013
LifeSiteNews.com

"We have to consider whether we have the courage to act in the face of general public opinion or norms, peer pressure, and sometimes even the law, if these contradict the Word of God. We must obey God rather than men." -Dr. Päivi Räsänen

(Helsinki, Finland)—Finland may be nearly half-way around the world, but what's happening there is sending pro-life waves around the globe, especially, it seems, in the state of Minnesota.

Meet Christian physician Dr. Päivi Räsänen, Finland's Interior Minister, who has been the target of a recent massive backlash from abortion-rights groups after courageously making a stand against abortion.

A Scandhouse.org article states, that Räsänen "obviously touched a nerve among those who are terrified by the very thought that there might really be a God, or that the babies whose slaughter they pro urgently might be made in His image. The enemy has thoroughly convinced the vast majority in Scandinavia that there is no God (and no devil, for that matter), but that they can be gods, deciding for themselves what is Good and what is Evil."

But, it adds, she "has withstood the assault with grace and calmness and now even some major journalists are taking a closer look."

Apparently the Editor-in-chief of one of Finland's most widely read newspapers agrees. "I realized that those attacking Räsänen simply had not read her speech," he wrote. "It is structured, logical and authentic."

Indeed, the Rev. Timo Keskitalo, pastor of the International Evangelical Church in Helsinki, told Ecumenical News that "it upsets the other politicians and the media that there is a government minister who is an evangelical Believer."

Thaddeus Baklinski, a reporter for LifeSite News, recently reported that the state of Minnesota, of which a quarter of the population is of Finnish descent, is standing up for Räsänen. He wrote:

"The director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Global Outreach (MCCL-GO), Scott Fischbach, met with Finnish Interior Minister Dr. Päivi Räsänen in the Finnish Parliament House last week to discuss abortion and the need for a pro-life movement in Finland.

Earlier this summer Dr. Räsänen caused an uproar in Europe when she used a speech at a Lutheran Church conference to call for a discussion on abortion in her country.

Dr. Räsänen compared abortion to 'butchery' and said that animals are better protected under Finnish law than unborn human beings.

'Animals may not be slaughtered in a painful manner, but it's not permitted to even discuss the painfulness of abortion,' said Räsänen.

'It is a real honor to meet with the Interior Minister of Finland,' Fischbach stated in a press release. 'Her courage to speak out for the unborn from the highest levels of government is very noble. Igniting a national conversation about abortion and keeping the human rights cause of life in front of the people is a tremendous victory!'

'We also discussed the need for a strong and vibrant right to life organization in Finland that can reach across all faith lines and to those outside the faith community with a strong human rights message-especially for young people,' Fischbach said.

Fischbach noted that when he and Dr. Räsänen got to Parliament they were met by a rally of young Christian people who were holding a prayer rally for parliamentarians. Dr. Räsänen gave a short speech to encourage the youth, some of whom held a banner on the parliament steps that read 'Youth of Finland Praying,' to persevere in their efforts for their country.