Every Christian Should Be Concerned - Criminal Prosecution For Bible-Verse Post

A Finnish politician is now facing her third trial for upholding the biblical truth about marriage -- this time, before her nation's Supreme Court.

Päivi Räsänen, a physician and 30-year veteran of Finland's parliament, appeared before the Supreme Court of Finland on Thursday, combating charges of "hate speech" stemming from a 2019 social media post quoting Scripture in opposition to her church's participation in Pride Month. "I stand here not only to defend my own right to speak freely, but to defend the freedom of every person to express deeply held beliefs without fear of punishment," Räsänen declared before entering the courtroom. 

"My case will show whether quoting the Bible can become a crime in a free country. I trust that the Finnish Supreme Court will uphold the rule of law and the fundamental freedom to speak openly about faith. No one should be censored for sharing the timeless truths of Scripture."

Räsänen first faced prosecution in 2019, after sharing a social media post quoting Scripture to criticize the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland for participating in and promoting Pride Month and LGBT talking points. "How does the church's doctrinal foundation, #raamattu [the Bible], align with the idea of elevating shame and sin as a source of pride?" she asked in a Twitter (now X) post. In 2021, the Christian parliamentarian was charged with three counts of inciting hatred against a minority group, charges categorized in Finnish law as "war crimes and crimes against humanity" and carrying penalties of up to two years in prison per charge.

Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland was also charged, in connection with a pamphlet Räsänen authored and Pohjola published in 2004 concerning Christian moral teachings on sexuality. A three-judge panel of the Helsinki District Court unanimously acquitted Räsänen and Pohjola of all charges in March of 2022, but prosecutors appealed the decision. 

The Finnish Court of Appeals likewise unanimously acquitted the two Christians of all charges in November of 2023, but prosecutors once again appealed the decision, elevating the case to Finland's Supreme Court. In both acquittals, judges observed that Räsänen and Pohjola had not intended to incite hatred against any minority, and that such an intention would have to be demonstrated in order to secure a conviction.

Prosecutors on Thursday demanded criminal convictions for both Räsänen and Pohjola, in addition to steep fines and the removal of both Räsänen's social media post and all online content from the 2004 pamphlet Räsänen and Pohjola wrote and published, according to attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, who are representing Räsänen before the Supreme Court. Prosecutors called Räsänen's defense of biblical truth "insulting," arguing that her "intent is irrelevant" and that "what matters is how readers interpret the text." 

For her part, Räsänen and her legal team argued that her goal in authoring the 2004 pamphlet and the 2019 social media post was "to defend the Bible." She said that "if the church leadership teaches values contrary to the Bible, it undermines the credibility of Scripture."

In comments to The Washington Stand, ADF International Executive Director Paul Coleman said, "At the heart of Dr. Räsänen's case is the basic question as to whether peacefully expressing long-held Christian beliefs is still legal in Finland. No one should face criminal charges for quoting the Bible or simply expressing their faith." He continued, "This prosecution has dragged on for more than six years, demonstrating the state prosecution's relentless desire to make an example of this long-serving civil servant. The outcome will send a message far beyond Finland's borders."

"If a member of parliament and former interior minister can be criminally prosecuted for a Bible-verse tweet, every Christian in the West should be concerned. Freedom of speech and religion must include the right to peacefully express beliefs that may not align with the prevailing political orthodoxy," Coleman insisted. "For Christians in the United States, Dr. Räsänen's case is a reminder that freedom is fragile. What happens in one democracy can quickly influence others. The time to defend free speech is now, before it disappears."

Originally published at The Washington Stand