Finnish Christian politician, Päivi Räsänen, is about to face her final trial for her writings on Biblical marriage. “I pray the hearing could open up opportunities to present the Gospel”, she says.
Päivi Räsänen. / Photo: [link]ADF UK[/link]
Member of the Finnish parliament and former interior minister, Päivi Räsänen, will face the final stage of the trial for her views on marriage and homosexuality.
She was dismissed of all charges against her in two instances: the Helsinki District Court in March 2022 and then the Helsinki Court of Appeals in November 2023, but he Supreme Court ruled that the Prosecutor General could appeal, and set the appeal date for 30 October 2025.
“This case is a significant precedent that will shape the future state of freedom of expression in Finland and many other European countries with similar legislation that restricts freedom of expression”, points out Räsänen in a column for news website CNE news.
According to the Finnish MP, “at the heart of the trial is the question of whether teachings related to the Bible can be presented and whether it is permissible to express agreement with them”.
“A favorable decision by the Supreme Court would would clearly and strongly safeguard the freedom of Christians to uphold the teachings of the Bible and would generally strengthen the principle of freedom of speech”, she says in the press release prior to the trial.
Räsänen also encourages Christians to “appeal to our Constitution when we defend our freedom of expression. Paul defended himself with the rights of a Roman citizen. We, too, have the right to invoke the freedom of faith and conscience that is guaranteed by our own country’s constitution”.
Despite “it has been an extremely busy autumn in the Finnish parliament”, the Christian politician has found time to “focus on preparing for the crucial trial” with her lawyer and by “reading the Bible every day”. She is also “immensely grateful to the large number of people who tell me that they are praying for me”.
“I consider it a privilege and an honour to be called to defend freedom of speech and belief in this time […] The trials strengthened my trust in the promises of Jesus. I have gained a great deal more joy, friends, great times and support than I have lost because of these charges, stresses Räsänen.
“My prayer is that the Supreme Court hearing day could open up opportunities to publicly present the message of the Gospel. The core message of the Bible is not to tell what sin is, but what God’s solution is to our sinfulness”, she concludes.
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