Orwellian: Finnish Politician on Trial for Sharing Bible Verse, Christian Views Reveals Why She Refuses to Back Down

Billy Hallowell : Nov 13, 2024
Faithwire.com

"I was interrogated in the police station all together 13 hours about very theological issues—Biblical issues..." -Päivi Räsänen

[Faithwire.com] A member of Finland's parliament who has faced a years-long legal battle after sharing a Bible verse on social media refuses to back down from her freedom fight. (Image: via Faithwire-Screengrab)

Päivi Räsänen told "Higher Ground With Billy Hallowell" her legal battle began more than five years ago, when she challenged Finland's main religious body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, questioning why it had "decided to support, financially and publicly" a local pride parade.

"It was a disappointment and even shock to me and many others," she said. "Many of my friends decided to resign the church, and I was also praying ... 'What should I do now?' I was very worried about this very public statement of the leadership of the church, because I was worried that it will undermine people's trust on [the] Bible and its authority."

Räsänen decided to take to X—then Twitter—to share text from Romans 1, where the Apostle Paul addresses sexual ethics. She added a question to church leadership about their position supporting Pride.

"After that, some citizen made a criminal complaint and the police started to investigate the case," Räsänen continued. "At the beginning, I didn't believe it. I just read it from the newspaper that police [had] started to investigate the case and I phoned to the policeman and he said, 'Yes, we are investigating it.'"

Then, more criminal complaints emerged, with an old pamphlet she wrote about marriage also catching negative attention. Plus, a radio program she appeared on came into the crosshairs.

"I was interrogated in the police station all together 13 hours about very theological issues—Biblical issues," Räsänen said. "Police [were] asking me ... 'What is the main message of the Book of Romans? And so on."... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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