Nearly two years after a Finnish Court of Appeals acquitted Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen of hate speech charges for quoting the Bible in a Twitter post, the Supreme Court has upheld the decision, but found her guilty of possessing a 20-year-old pamphlet about marriage and biblical sexual ethics.
In 2019, Räsänen questioned the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland’s participation in a Helsinki Pride event, posting a picture of Romans 1:24-27 (“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts…”).
Following complaints to the police, she was investigated and charged with a hate crime. According to Christian Today:
Räsänen was charged with “agitation against a minority group” under the section of the Finnish criminal code that deals with “war crimes and crimes against humanity”. The charges related to the tweet, to her comments in a radio debate, and to a church pamphlet published in 2004. The co-publisher of the pamphlet, Bishop Juhana Pohjola, was also charged.
Prosecutors zeroed in on her use of the word “sin,” which they decried as hateful and demeaning.
Despite being exonerated in two trials in 2022 and 2023, prosecutors continued their pursuit, aiming to impose jail time and fines of tens of thousands of euros.
While she was acquitted of hate speech for the tweet, she was found guilty of another crime. PCN explains:
“In a 3-2 decision, the court deemed the pamphlet displayed opinions “that insult homosexuals as a group on the basis of their sexual orientation”, although there was no hatred or incitement to violence.
Investigators unearthed the text while investigating a complaint about the tweet, with it linked to Räsänen’s website. Judges said the text should be “removed from public access and destroyed”
Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola was also convicted for “making and keeping available to the public a text that insults a group”
Reacting to the verdict, Räsänen said: “I am shocked and profoundly disappointed that the court has failed to recognize my basic human right to freedom of expression. I stand by the teachings of my Christian faith, and will continue to defend my and every person’s right to share their convictions in the public square.”
6 responses to “Finnish MP Convicted of ‘Hate speech’ For 20 y/o Pamphlet Against Homosexuality”
Three times it says “God gave the up”. First to lust, then to unnatural affection, then to reprobate mind. Later in Romans 2:15, he explains the law is written on their hearts. (Remember man is made of three parts – the God-breathed spirit of man (the connection to our Creator), heart/mind (soul) of man, and flesh of man.) And their conscience informed by God’s law convicts them.
(And becoming born again, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, means that He steps in to strengthen the spirit, to cleanse the heart/mind/soul, to overcome the corruption of the flesh and fallen creation)
I believe when it says that “God gave them up”, it means something along the lines that He removes that connection to the spirit of man, so they are without the conviction of His law. He leaves them to their own devices. And so they believe they are doing what’s good, but they are not. There are other examples in scripture, such as God leaving king Saul to his own devices.
So in convicting this woman, they have proved Romans 1:18-32, from the first verse (suppression of the truth), to the last (a reprobate mind). They believe they are doing what’s right. And they do not like scripture that says they’ve done wrong, are not doing what’s right, and are not good people.
The world hates us because it first hated Jesus. Why? Because He exposed their guilt, and left them with no excuses. (John 15:22) And because we do the same. Because our mere existence is a witness and reminder that they are guilty and have no excuse. As that same chapter, Romans 1, says, all are without excuse. And that’s why they hate it. They’re not lashing out at the lady who posted it, they’re lashing out against the particular scripture she posted, which reminds them they are guilty and that they have no excuse.
The first verse, it reminds us, “the wrath of God is revealed”
Their guilt is revealed. Their lack of excuses is revealed. God’s wrath is revealed.
Which I’v’e just realized, corresponds with John 16 – the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:8). But this is enough posting on this article. I do not want to hog the blog.
Well, one more thing, that might be of interest. I’ve also just realized that it also corresponds with the three parts of man. Sin (flesh), righteousness (of soul/mind/heart), and judgment (the God-breathed spirit of man – connection to Him – the conviction of the conscience).
God “gave them up” – entirely and wholly, all three parts. Which leads me to consider 2 Thess. 2, 2 Tim. 3, and so on. But this is enough posting here, for now.
The pharisees said to Jesus “you insult us” (Luke 11:45)
Indeed He did. He exposed their guilt, left them with no excuses, and made them feel terrible about themselves. He showed them that they were not the good and righteous men they thought they were.
That’s what the Gospel does. It insults.
I’ve posted enough here, though … off to work.
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