A Lutheran bishop and a member of Parliament have been arrested and charged by Finnish authorities with hate speech for quoting Biblical teachings on marriage and sexuality.
The Rev. Juhana Pohjola, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, and Paivi Rasanen, a Finnish member of parliament and medical doctor, were charged with “incitement to hatred against a group” for publishing and writing Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual relationships challenge the Christian concept of humanity, which quotes Biblical teachings that marriage is between a man and a woman.
The charges effectively criminalize quoting the Bible.
Under Finnish speech laws they could face two years in prison for “incitement to hatred against a group,” despite the fact the book never advocated hatred and the authors explicitly reject discrimination or violence.
“As a Christian, I do not want to and cannot discriminate against or despise anyone created by God. Every human being, created by God and redeemed by Christ, is equally precious,” Pohjola
“This does not remove the fact that, according to the Bible and the Christian conception of man, homosexual relations are against the will of God, and marriage is intended only between a man and a woman. This is what the Christian church has always taught and will always teach,” said Pohjola.
Pohjola was initially interrogated for five hours by Helsinki police over text on his website quoting Biblical teachings about marriage. When they declined to press charges, Finland’s prosecutor general intervened and charged Pohjola and Rasanen.
The arrests have been condemned by several members of Congress, who want Finland placed on a U.S. State Department watchlist of human rights violators.
“The Finnish government is currently prosecuting well-known Christians for publicly supporting long-standing Christian doctrine. The prosecutions of the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF), the Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, and Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a Member of Parliament, are specific examples of the Finnish government’s violation of freedom of religion,” reads a letter led by Texas Republican Congressman Chip Roy.
“Citizens should never be forced to choose between a fundamental freedom- their faith- and legal persecution,” the letter continues. “We strongly condemn the actions of the Finnish government to persecute Christians for speaking their beliefs and urge USCIRF to take these actions into consideration when recommending which countries should be added to State Department’s Special Watch List, established under the International Freedom Act of 1998,” reads the letter.
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Michael Brigham
Michael Brigham has written for American Action News since the summer of 2019. His areas of expertise include foreign affairs, government, and politics, but regardless of the subject matter, he has a nose and an insatiable appetite for news. In his free time, he enjoys reading nonfiction, watching a mix of comedies and true crime documentaries, and spending time away from the swamp hiking in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
The devil hates the truth and will do anything and everything he can to oppose and destroy it. And if he can’t destroy it then he uses his evil children the liberals to at least try to silence it.
Amen. You are correct.
The Finns aren’t laughing about this, but of course, they don’t laugh about anything. Irish, they ain’t. Ooh, was that just hate speech?
The Finnish people must fight for their relwase
In the savage Arab old world, my enemy’s enemy is my friend. As Islamic fanatics are evil, socialists and other enemies of God given freedom unite in evil hatred. May God soon bring holy judgment on to the heads of these children of the Devil.
I was reading a post about race and had to thank God that I am part of the human race . That makes Me different from the Dems or AKA dims . they are a different race all together primarily liars , cheaters , and other things I can not make on this site out of respect . I believe they are angels everyone of them . like Satan is
As an addendum to my post, Former Marine. I wasn’t specifically speaking to you, but to anyone in general who would read my post. I just wanted to clarify that.
These people are Idiots, just because they don’t like what someone says. How stupid to arrest people over BS
Everyone is just tired of tiptoeing around the homosexuals like they own the world.
The facts are overwhelming that this is a mental issue, and these people need treatment.
I suspect the prosecutor is a homosexual himself.
The beginning of the end!
This is what happens when SOCIALISM takes over a Nation.
LISTEN UP…..The BISHOP is Doing HIS JOB…Promoting the TEACHING of the HOLY BIBLE. IT is WRITTEN…ALL Shall HEAR the GOSPEL then the END Shall COME. From SamuraiQueen. 😀😀😀
Daniel 11: 21
Rev 9: 11
Rev 12: 17
Can this happen in the US??
Where Two Or More are Gathered Together, IN MY NAME, There I Will Be In their Midst ! The Holy Spirit Will Bring a Revival to The Followers ! … Hallelujah !!!!
I agree with Redwolf! Never thought I would see the day when people were persecuted for believing and preaching what is written in our Holy Bible. Pray for the Holy Spirit to touch their hearts after all we are ALL God’s children and He loves us all as well.
America is becoming like Finland
Quote a fairy tale and you need to go to jail
Almighty God, the Father, gave you a free gift of mercy and grace at great personal expense – the painful death of His Son, Christ Jesus, on a cross for the sins of all who repent and place their faith in Him.
The day you appear before Almighty God, you will bow your knee to Jesus whether you want to or not. On that day, if you are NOT regenerated by the Holy Spirit (John 3: 1-15) you will be cast into eternal damnation. There will be no second chances, no “Get out of jail” cards.
Many in this world, MUCH SMARTER than you, have tried to prove the Holy Bible to be false – THEY HAVE FAILED. I hope you realize this before you take your final breath.
When the word of God is not accepted by a government, that government will fail. How sad that the truth is criminalized.
Sanity is not welcome in Finland!
It’s the behavior that’s the problem now; since Jesus’ advent, grace has allowed for them to repent their sins too; but that doesn’t mean Christians should accept or “tolerate” their behaviors in Christian environments. That’s not “hatred” for the person; simply rejection of the behavior; not unlike rejecting a violence as an “acceptable behavior”. Sadly, the hatred from the left leaves NO room for Christianity or any other deviation from Satan’s agenda,
Many “Christian” churches around the world are now “blessing” the marriages between homosexuals. Personally, I don’t agree with that practice, but I will say that before the judgement of God they need all the blessings they can get. As do all the homosexual ministers of God’s word, which they twist to THEIR meaning. Even the Pope said “Who are we to judge?” I don’t believe it’s hate speech, it’s just an interpretation of scripture, which to Americans is freedom of religion. The Finns need to “embrace” that fact, that no hate or harm is intended. But they have long been Communist, with no rights or freedoms. Sad.
The Finnish people have to fight for Good. It looks like the liberals have gotten into their heads.In America it took the parents of all Children to stand up to such Crazy , dangerous ideas they have .We won due to our strong Parents . Please stand strong, don’t let the left win. Our people had to learn the hard way, letting our elections be stolen , but that will change soon, may GOD be with you all.
Sadly, If I were the Bishop I wouldn’t count on my fellow Lutherans to bail me out.
Meaning ???
And the War On Christianity goes on…
Religion is a personal choice for an individual and should not be governed or controlled by any government.
Our Christian faith and the Bible teach that homosexuality is a sin. However, the natural order of life also decries homosexuality in all species
It is interesting to note that Christianity is more tolerant towards homosexuality than other major religions yet they are the ones being persecuted
We must all remind ourselves that God is in ultimate control. Remember the Lord’s prayer . . . .”Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven . . . ” The earth will one day be renewed by Him and all who are children of God will inherit an eternal life with God.
Jesus warned us of difficult times. He also told us that the day would come when evil was considered good and good was considered evil. We are at that moment in time.
Throw out these scum who have perverted your laws and customs. Stand up for what is right….and righteous. Just one person who stands with God……constitutes a Majority.
There goes the neighborhood; there goes Finland.