Päivi Räsänen was the main speaker at the 2022 General Assembly of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance: “Everyone should be free to express their deeply held beliefs about important issues without fear of censorship or criminal sanction”.
Over 750,000 signatories had asked for a vote, but the highest court says the life of the weak and vulnerable would not be protected. Evangelicals praise the decision.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier was re-elected with a large majority. He is a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church and very outspoken about his faith.
Only three of the 24 crew members have been rescued alive so far. One of them is a Ghanaian sailor and a member of the Evangelical Church of Marin.
The second hearing focused more strongly on the interpretation of the law than the first hearing. Bible quotes and questions about faith were not heard this time.
As tensions grow in the area, evangelicals continue to “trust in God, who is always with us. And we believe that our people will not give up”, says a pastor in Kharkiv.
The Finnish Member of Parliament charged with incitement to hatred against homosexuals faces the court again on 14 February. She defends herself against what she considers “false claims” of the prosecution.
Pornography websites could be fined up to 10% of their annual turnover or be blocked. Christian associations welcome “a significant, but long overdue step in the right direction”.
The speakers at the evangelical gathering stressed that criticism and offense should not be equated to hate speech, and that freedom of expression should prevail in case of doubt.
Over 800 women participated in person and the conference was also available online.
A documentary with 100 interviews with LGBT priests and other Catholic workers helps launch a movement to demand doctrinal changes. Cardinal Reinhard Marx calls to drop mandatory celibacy for priests.
Spanish evangelicals denounce that “fundamental freedoms are at risk”, due to “authoritarian” legislative initiatives and “demand for all the right to think differently and to freely express it”.
Connie Main Duarte (Portugal) and Jan Wessels (Netherlands) will succeed Thomas Bucher in October 2022.
Evangelicals say the new contract “contains guarantees for freedom of religion” but also warn about its application, because “certain terms could be misinterpreted”.
“People know so little of the Bible that discipleship starts much further down the line”, says James Ros, leader of the church planting movement #EastGermanyBelieves.
The Swiss Evangelical Alliance regrets “grievous mistakes in the past” but opposes a law that could limit the freedom of people to seek help according their religious convictions.
Portugal receives over 100 complains of sexual abuses in only five days. An independent report in Germany on the cover-up of sexual abuse in Munich has also been published.
Over 340 million Europeans in 19 countries use the currency today. The creation of a digital euro is among the challenges ahead, which could have “far-reaching implications for societies in the future”, says a Christian analyst.
A summary of the main statements by the prosecution and the defense of MP Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola. On the ground reporting from Helsinki, Finland.
The prosecutor demands that Päivi Räsänen's writings on homosexuality are removed. Her lawyer underlines the politician’s belief in the dignity of all people and refers to the European Court of Human Rights.
Theologian Timo Eskola says courts of law should “not dictate what churches are allowed to teach about sin”. Other Lutheran academics have been less supportive of the Finnish parliamentarian.
Despite her past stand against abortion, Roberta Metsola told reporters after being elected that her position on abortion will be “that of the European Parliament”.
The law of 2018 worried evangelical Christians, as it strongly limited religious activities outdoors and limited faith expressions of civil servants.
The Finnish parliamentarian to be tried on 24 January for expressing her biblical convictions about homosexuality hopes her case will encourage other Christians to openly speak about their faith.
The annual conference in Wisła brings together hundreds of evangelical leaders for training, encouragement, networking and resources.
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