OPINION:
The terrifying, anti-freedom forces at work in the world today are rapidly intensifying, with basic liberties falling victim to radical ideologies and secular fervor.
Even in America — a nation with an enshrined First Amendment that offers religious freedom — we’ve seen blatant attempts to restrict sovereignty and banish faith from the public square.
The battles have persisted, with citizens such as Colorado baker Jack Phillips spending years in courtroom fights to operate their businesses in accordance with their religious beliefs.
In Mr. Phillips’ case, the Christian baker declined to make a cake for a same-sex wedding and then, separately, a cake celebrating a gender transition. He recently scored a victory in the legal volley, but the arduous fight is enough to alarm any freedom-loving person.
Then there’s former football coach Joe Kennedy, who, in 2022, achieved a 6-3 Supreme Court victory in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, after he was fired for praying on the 50-yard line after public school football games. His right to pray was ultimately upheld, but not without a fight.
And while these victories matter and offer glimmers of hope, a case in Finland should send chills down the spines of freedom-loving people across the globe.
Paivi Rasanen, a member of the Finnish Parliament who previously served as the nation’s interior secretary, has spent years in court after being brought up on hate crimes charges simply for expressing her Christian beliefs.
Ms. Rasanen’s offense? On June 17, 2019, she tweeted words from Romans 1:24-27, Scriptures that set moral parameters around homosexuality. At the time, the politician questioned the Evangelical Lutheran Church’s support for a Pride parade.
“Some citizen made a criminal complaint and the police started to investigate the case,” she told The Washington Times’ Higher Ground, saying that the investigation initially seemed absurd. “At the beginning, I didn’t believe it.”
But Ms. Rasanen was soon hauled before police and interrogated for 13 hours, with officers asking about her theological and biblical beliefs.
In addition to Ms. Rasanen’s tweet, a pamphlet she wrote on marriage 20 years ago and an interview she did sharing her views on matrimony also came into play, landing her with criminal charges and potential jail time for her supposed thought crimes.
“It was a very absurd and very unreal situation,” she said. “It was like a dream. I couldn’t believe that this happens in Finland, which has long roots in Christianity and good reputation in rule of law and so on.”
But the 13-hour interrogation over her Christian views was just the beginning, as prosecutors’ charges landed Ms. Rasanen at the center of two court battles that made international news.
“They are accusing me of breaking …. the law about agitation against minorities,” she said. “We have that kind of law in Finland, as in almost all European countries, and, so, it can bring up to two years [in] jail or heavy fines, and it is some kind of hate speech law.”
Ms. Rasanen has denied saying or doing anything rooted in hatred or disdain and has pledged to continue fighting her case. So far, she has won both the initial case as well as the prosecutor’s appeal — but it’s not over.
Remarkably, after two embarrassing losses, prosecutors are forging on, appealing the case to Finland’s Supreme Court. Even the secular media in Finland realize the absurdity of the effort, dubbing it the “Bible trial,” as most realize authorities are taking aim at Scripture itself.
The move to take the case to the Supreme Court has been shocking to Ms. Rasanen, who said she had “very clear acquittals” from the six judges involved in the two previous cases.
“They didn’t find any crime from my writings, and, in fact, they proved that many of these accusations … they were lies,” Ms. Rasanen said.
But she fights on and is hoping her refusal to give up or give in to pressure will help create a precedent that protects other Christians.
“I’m now praying and hoping that I would get the third victory because it would give a very strong precedent, a legal guide for the future,” Ms. Rasanen added, expressing worries over what a loss might mean. “I think that it would have very, very dangerous consequences. … It would start the time of persecution of Christians in Finland and in European countries, because … it would mean that you are not anymore allowed to agree publicly with the Bible.”
Ms. Rasanen is right. If she loses, it would send a demonic Bat Signal of sorts to the forces in Europe and around the globe who seek to hamper religious liberty and, in particular, Christian expression. There’s much on the line, and Ms. Rasanen’s bravery is commendable.
“I will stand on these biblical teachings,” she declared. “And I have had … very strong feelings that this has been in God’s hands. This has been my calling. … We need to fight for these freedoms.”
Let’s pray for Ms. Rasanen as she prepares to fight at Finland’s Supreme Court, and let’s hope rationality triumphs.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” He is the author of four books.
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