Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

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   As someone who produced dozens of nativity plays as a teacher and a Sunday School leader, that title ‘A Gay…

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   The defence of a Christian view never seems to be settled by debate: exchange of facts, reference to historical events.…

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   Religion can survive only on the most unquestionable assumptions. The statements made on Sundays on the BBC as if they…

FINNISH authorities stand accused of waging war on Christianity by Christian lawmaker Dr. Päivi Räsänen, above, who has been ordered to attend an appeal court hearing later this year.

Premier Christian News reported that Räsänen’s run-in with Finnish anti-hate speech laws began in 2019 when she took to Twitter to express concern that her church was hosting a Pride parade. In her tweet, she referenced the Bible.

She was was charged with hate speech, tried under Finnish criminal law, but acquitted last year. Since then the state prosecutor has appealed the verdict, and a date has been set for a new hearing: August 22.

Also summoned to appear at the appeal court is Bishop Juhana Pohjola, of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, who is being prosecuted for publishing a pamplet she wrote. He, too, was aquitted.

This case has been named “the Bible trial” as the prosecutor focused on evaluating the acceptability of the Bible’s teachings in modern Finland.

Enter Alliance Defending Freedom International, originally a US-based outfit which has expanded its reach to defend “persecuted” Christians outside American borders. It is supporting the pair.

‘A new low’

Image via YouTube

Paul Coleman, above, Executive Director of ADF International, said:

When a longstanding and respected Finnish parliamentarian is put on trial twice for sharing her deeply held beliefs in a tweet four years ago, you know regard for free speech in Europe has hit a new low.

Everyone who cares about free speech should be outraged at the continued prosecution of Päivi Räsänen. The prosecution wants to make an example of Päivi to scare others into silence. They failed in the first trial. We hope free speech will prevail again.

Meanwhile, in an updated report, Premier quoted a defiant Räsänen. as saying she would do it all again.

I would absolutely do it the same way … I think now is the time to speak. I think that the problem has been that in Finnish society and the Finnish churches, and Christians, they have been too silent.

We have not, in churches and in pulpits, been teaching about these issues—these controversial issues, for example, about marriage and gender, and what is sin.

‘We are all sinners’

She added:

The prosecutor is saying that if we speak about sin, then we think that some people are inferior to other people, even though I have said all the time that we all are sinners.

I am as sinful as other people and I’m in need of grace. That is the core message of the Bible that all people are created as image of God we all are equal.

Räsänen says she is prepared to defend freedom of expression and faith, if required, and will take her case before the Supreme Court of Finland and, thereafter, if necessary, the European Court of Human Rights.

Meanwhile Premier is exhorting people to pray for the woman:

Heavenly Father, Bless, honour and encourage Dr. Päivi Räsänen we pray. Thank you for the stance she is taking in Finland.  Extend your hand of mercy and grace to Europe. And may the nations of Scandanavia acknowledge Christ and the Bible.

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