Faith Facts

• Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen will testify before the House Judiciary Committee about growing speech restrictions in Europe.
• Räsänen faces prosecution in Finland for sharing a Bible verse on social media, raising concerns over religious freedom.
• Her case highlights the potential threat to expression of faith across Europe if convictions for biblical speech become precedent.

Päivi Räsänen, a Finnish member of parliament, is scheduled to address Congress regarding Europe’s increasing curbs on free speech, especially those impacting Christian expression.

The hearing will consider how European regulations threaten both faith-based and democratic principles, affecting the United States as well.

Räsänen’s legal battle began after she shared a Bible passage on social media and questioned her church’s alignment with LGBT pride events, resulting in criminal charges.

She remains steadfast, stating her actions come from religious conviction.

“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,” she said.

Her trial has prompted global concern that Christians may face increased legal jeopardy for expressing biblical truths.

Paul Coleman of ADF International warns that so-called hate speech laws threaten open dialogue and democracy.

“Criminalizing peaceful speech through so-called ‘hate speech’ laws not only silences important conversations — it endangers democracy itself,” Coleman said.

Faith and freedom require vigilance. Let us pray for boldness and for renewed respect for the rights given by our Creator. Christians must stand firm in faith, upholding the God-given freedoms of speech and belief.

Read the full article at The Christian Post

Faith Facts

• The European Court of Human Rights is reviewing a case on removing Christian symbols from Greek courtrooms.
• Legal advocates argue these symbols are expressions of heritage, not violations of rights.
• A previous court decision found that crucifixes in schools did not infringe on freedom of thought or religion.

Atheists in Greece have challenged the presence of Christian symbols in courtrooms, claiming these displays are discriminatory and compromise fairness.

The Greek courts denied the request, and the case is now before the European Court of Human Rights, which influences 46 European nations.

ADF International, a faith-based legal group, has spoken in defense of public Christian symbols, emphasizing their national and historical significance.

“The display of religious symbols in public spaces is in no way incompatible with human rights law. Public spaces should not be stripped of crosses, icons or other symbols with religious, cultural, and historical significance in the name of pluralism.”

ADF has argued that removing such symbols under “state neutrality” targets Christian heritage, a position supported by court decisions in similar cases.

“The Court has repeatedly affirmed that religious symbols, particularly those forming a country’s heritage, do not violate freedom of religion or the right to a fair trial.”

In a key previous ruling, the court declared that crucifixes in Italian schools were not indoctrination and did not infringe on religious freedom.

“The European Convention on Human Rights robustly protects freedom of religion. Culturally rooted religious symbols or artwork, such as centuries-old Orthodox Christian icons, do not impose a belief on anyone nor direct judicial decision-making.”

Stand firm for faith, family, and freedom—defending Christian heritage in the public square is vital for future generations.

Read the full story at Christian Today

Faith Facts

• A church in Greenwich was initially barred from a university event due to a new policy banning religious groups.
• Legal intervention highlighted that the exclusion could amount to discrimination under UK law.
• The company suspended its policy, allowing the church to attend the fair without admitting liability.

Grace Church Greenwich faced exclusion from a Goldsmiths University freshers’ fair after previously being allowed to participate. Native, the organizing company, cited a new rule against booking religious organizations.

The church sought support from The Christian Institute, which issued a legal warning about possible discrimination based on faith.

Native reversed the ban, ending its policy that prevented religious groups from participating. This ensures Christian organizations like Grace Church Greenwich can continue to offer a faith-based presence to students.

Rev. Andrew Sach emphasized the importance of churches standing up for religious liberties and ensuring a Christian voice on campuses.

Pro-life groups have also faced obstacles at university events, but continue to defend their freedom to express and promote biblical values.

Other organizations promoting concerning messages have found less resistance, drawing attention to the need for vigilance in defending biblical principles in public spaces.

Read the full report here