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Uitgelicht! February 15, 2022 Henk Jan van Schothorst of CCI on the case of Païvi Räsänen
Transcript video
We're going to go first to Finland for a moment because that's where Finnish politician Païvi Räsänen was on trial for comments she made about homosexuality in light of the Bible. Henk Jan van Schothorst of the Christian Council International was present at the trial yesterday and we are now in touch with him. Good evening Mr. Van Schothorst.
Good evening Mr. Pasterkamp.
Yes, nice of you to come on the air for a moment. What did Mrs. Räsänen say again? Could you refresh our memory?
Yes, yes, it traces back to June 2019 when the Lutheran Church, of which she is a member, was going to support a pride event in Helsinki, was going to walk with that, and so she was very upset about that because that was not in line with the views of the Lutheran Church and also not in line with the foundation of the Lutheran Church, which is the Bible. And I spoke to her privately on Sunday before the service at the Lutheran Church in Helsinki and she said, I'm a member of the Lutheran Church here, then I can do two things: I can either jump out, because she said, it seems to be like a sinking ship. I can either jump out or I can answer my calling and say, no, I'm going to make a point of this now, what the Bible says about it. And then she sent a tweet towards the church leadership, of guys, you shouldn't do this, because in Romans 1:24-27 it says, I have it in front of me here too, that that's not in line with the Biblical message, so, refrain from that. Well, also a little book she had written in 2004 on Male and Female, He created them, and a radio broadcast. Those were what prompted the prosecutor to make this a very big trial.
Yes, because what was the atmosphere like in that courtroom? You were there yesterday. Can you describe it?
Yes, well, I was just sitting right up there on that stand, a few feet away from Ms. Räsänen and that prosecutor. Yes, it was macabre actually when you hear how the prosecutor, of which I wondered: is that an activist or is that a prosecutor or is it both? Put Räsänen various things in her mouth that she had not said at all: that she was a fudamentalist and that her interpretation was not in line with the European Court of Human Rights, that what she said was unacceptable, that she had never apologized to gays for her stance, that she spread hatred, discriminated. None of that was the case, so Räsänen's defense stood like a house I must say and I also think, it would have to be very strange if she lost this case.
Yes, the verdict is on March 30 we understood. What consequences could it have if she is convicted?
Well, that would have very big consequences. First of all, instead of four they have set aside six weeks for the verdict, so that's extra long. If she were convicted, that would mean that there would be some kind of state censorship of freedom of religion actually. That would be very bad, even for Christians for freedom of religion. Because that's what's opposite: constitution article 1 here, equality, anti-discrimination and freedom of religion and freedom of speech. To what extent is there still room for the second if the principle of equality and anti-discrimination is put above these freedoms. That is very serious.
Finally, Mr. Van Schothorst, please answer briefly: can you imagine such a case in the Netherlands?
Well, certainly, and this law, which is now being debated on the initiative of D66 and VVD, and which is called 'homoseksual healing', is not about that at all. It's about the fact that people who might have those feelings should be able to get treatment for them at their own request. They should stop, the left-liberal side, cutting up society into all kinds of identity groups and follow what Mrs. Räsänen says: we are all sinners and we all need reconciliation. And that is what Mrs. Räsänen is saying.
Thank you for your clarification, Henk Jan van Schothorst of the Christian Council International.
On January 24, Finnish Christian politician Päivi Räsänen stood trial in Helsinki. She had to answer for her expressed views on homosexuality and marriage of one man and one woman. The Attorney General is prosecuting her for this and accusing her of inciting hatred. In turn, the politician is fighting for freedom of religion and speech. She took the opportunity to actually preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in court. The judges had so many questions that the hearing will continue on February 14. The verdict must be delivered by mid-March at the latest.
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Family7 - Featured! about the lawsuit against Päivi Räsänen in Helsinki, January 24, 2022
Transcript video
Good evening. We go first to Finland.
Christian politician Päivi Räsänen is due in court today for statements about homosexuality.
In a tweet in response to Romans 1, she said that homosexuality is something shameful.
Now in touch with Henk Jan van Schothorst of (Transatlantic) Christian Council International who is following this case closely.
Good evening Mr. Van Schothorst
Good evening.
Why did this Christian politician have to stand trial?
Well, actually you just mentioned that, because of a tweet she did about Romans 1 verse 24 to 27 about the practice of homosexuality. The trigger was actually that her Evangelical Lutheran Church was going to support a pride event which was going to take place in Helsinki in 2019 and also join the parade even with bishops. And she said: hey, the Bible says something completely different about it, the youth might get confused about that or the people who are Bible faithful. Let's see what the Bible says about that, actually a warning to the church leadership. That's one thing, the second thing that's added there's a 2004 pamphlet "Man and woman He created them," which she wrote and the third a radio broadcast and that made the charge.
Okay and so she had to appear this morning. Do you know in the meantime more about the course of the trial?
Yes, I've been following it all day from early this morning actually, on a weblog it's nicely tracked, where you can see what the prosecutor says and what the defense says. It's actually still in full swing at the time we're talking right now and we don't know if the judge will make a ruling today or later.
You know Ms. Räsänen personally, how is she experiencing this whole case?
Well, anyway, she is very calm about it, but also a little nervous. I met her in Budapest last October and we also support her. She is, yes still convinced of her views and calm and supported by the many prayers that have also been called for. She is also going into this case with her head held high and she is doing great the courtroom that is what I see of it.
And what does all this say about the political climate in Finland?
About the political climate in Finland it says that it's pretty split and that the temperature, you can say is below freezing level - I'm called - is below freezing temperature, and we have to say that we hope that this comes to a good end with Ms. Räsänen, but in any case I do think that whatever the verdict is, that it will be taken to a higher level when it comes to appeal to the European Court of Justice (for Human Rights).
Yes, because you expect it to go as far as the European Court of Justice (for Human Rights)?
Indeed, I expect that it will be a case on the merits that we will all have to face.
And what does that say about religious freedom in the European Union?
Well, that hard-won freedoms, basic freedoms such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion, are coming under heavy pressure and that we as Christians will really have to stand up against this, but also to continue to spread the Biblical message frankly and freely. After all, that is the best message we have for the Netherlands, for Finland, for Europe and for the world, which is worth to be defended and propagated.
Thank you for the explanation Henk Jan van Schothorst of (Transatlantic) Christian Council International.
You're welcome.