Freedom
Finnish Court Ruling Sparks Alarm Over Christian Speech
Faith Facts
- A Finnish MP and a Lutheran bishop were convicted over a 2004 church pamphlet on biblical marriage.
- The case began after MP Päivi Räsänen cited Romans 1:24–27 in a tweet about a pride parade.
- The court ordered the pamphlet removed from the internet and destroyed.
The Finnish Supreme Court has issued a ruling that many Christians see as a warning sign for religious freedom in Europe. By a narrow 3–2 vote, Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola were convicted for publishing a pamphlet on biblical marriage.
The case highlights the reach of vaguely worded hate speech laws used against peaceful Christian expression. Although the court found no incitement to violence, it still ordered the destruction of the 20-year-old document.
“Be still, my soul! Your God does undertake to guide the future as He has the past.”
We must pray for our brothers and sisters in Finland as they face persecution for their commitment to Scripture. Let us stand firm against the global tide of authoritarian conformity that seeks to silence the Gospel.