Finnish Lutherans convicted of ‘hate speech’ by Finland Supreme Court

Dr. Päivi Räsänen addresses the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on Aug. 1, 2023, in Milwaukee. (LCMS/Roy S. Askins)

By Cheryl Magness

In 2023, the Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF) — a partner church of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) — and Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a medical doctor and member of the Finnish Parliament, spoke to the LCMS convention about their years-long experience of being prosecuted in the Finnish courts for confessing what the Bible teaches about creation. That prosecution stemmed from a 2019 social media post by Räsänen (on X, which was then Twitter) in which she shared a passage from Romans to question another Lutheran church body’s support of a “Pride” event.

The prosecution — and persecution — continued as a 2004 church pamphlet written by Räsänen and edited by Pohjola came under scrutiny for containing “hate speech.” The pamphlet, Male and Female He Created Them, was originally published in Finnish by Lutheran Heritage Foundation (they have since published it in both English and Spanish as well) and upholds a biblical view of marriage and sexuality. Although Räsänen and Pohjola were cleared of wrongdoing by a Helsinki district court in 2022, appeals by the Finnish government have kept them returning to court since that time — first to the Helsinki Court of Appeal, where they were again acquitted, and finally, last year, to the Supreme Court of Finland.

Now, as the LCMS prepares for another convention, the nightmare has still not ended for Räsänen and Pohjola. In a 3–2 decision announced on March 26, the Finnish Supreme Court has found the two guilty of “inciting hatred” with the pamphlet. (The court acquitted Räsänen for the 2019 tweet and did not rule on a previous acquittal, which was not appealed, related to a radio appearance that Räsänen gave in 2019.) Both have been ordered to pay fines equivalent to 20 days of wages (amounting to thousands of dollars), as well as legal costs. Luther Foundation Finland, an organization that supports the ELMDF and that worked with Lutheran Heritage Foundation in the printing and publishing of the pamphlet in Finland, has also been fined 5,000 euros (1 euro = 1.15 U.S. dollars). In addition, the court has ordered that the pamphlet as written be permanently removed from public access, both print and digital.

In a press conference following the Supreme Court decision, Räsänen said she is considering appealing the ruling to the European Court of Human Rights.

“It is not about my free speech alone but that of every person in Finland,” she said. “This case is not the end of the matter; it is part of a broader and ongoing discussion about the future of fundamental freedoms in Finland and across Europe.”

She added that the ruling would not deter her from speaking about her faith.

“I am going to use my freedom of speech, and I am going to be open about my faith. I trust in God, and I trust it’s in God’s hands.”

In a social media post, the Rev. Dr. Robert Rahn, founder of Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) and executive director at the time of the booklet’s publishing, said, “What a deplorable act on the part of a secularist court and a dagger in the heart of religious freedom and a court now becoming the official interpreter of the Bible. Lord, have mercy. This is a true reenactment of the Lenten story featuring Pontius Pilate and rulers of the land.”

Speaking to Reporter, current LHF Executive Director Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise said, “LHF stands ready to support and assist our Finnish Lutheran brothers and sisters who are paying the price for their faithfulness to God’s Word. We are united in our commitment to sharing the complete Word of God, in all its truth and purity, even when the world would turn against us. Päivi and Bishop Pohjola are to be commended for their brave, unwavering stance on God’s plan for marriage, and LHF will not let them stand alone. Should the day come when these fines must be paid, we have no doubt that there will be an outpouring of support from LHF donors, enabling us to help relieve this financial burden.”

The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, president of the LCMS, speaks with Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a medical doctor and longstanding member of the Finnish parliament, on Aug. 1, 2021, in Loimaa, Finland. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

‘Every time the state attacks, the church only grows’

The story of Räsänen and Pohjola is being covered nationally and internationally by both religious and secular news outlets, demonstrating the significance of its implications for both freedom of speech and religious liberty. Following the ruling, Pohjola said, “My conscience is clear, and in any case, the work for freedom of speech and religion will continue. We accept this calmly from God’s hand. We want to thank those who have supported and interceded for this cause around the world.”

“It is certainly an injustice when a nation’s court stifles free speech,” said the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS president. “But it’s much more of a portent of judgment or even divine judgment itself when a high court of a once great Lutheran nation subverts the very mandate of Christ Himself.

“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s (Mark 12:17). Fear not. Let courts outlaw the Bible itself along with its call to repentance and forgiveness for all. Do not despair. The light of Christ shines brightest against the darkness (John 1:5).

“Through this entire ordeal, my dear brother, Bishop Pohjola, has told me time and again, ‘Every time the state attacks, the church only grows.’”

The Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, addresses the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on Aug. 1, 2023, in Milwaukee. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

At the 2023 LCMS convention, Räsänen said that, even though she and Pohjola had gained a recent victory in the court, the process had resulted in “self-censorship” in Finland, causing Christians to fear speaking openly about their faith. She urged the convention not to give in to this fear.

“If we do not now use our right to speak, the space we have for using our rights will eventually become even narrower. The more we keep silent about the teachings of the Bible on the painful issues of our time, the more powerful is the rejection of God’s Word,” she said.

Paul Coleman, executive director of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, which coordinated Räsänen’s defense, said, “Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy. It is right that the Court has acquitted Päivi Räsänen for her 2019 Bible verse tweet.

“However, the conviction for a simple church pamphlet published decades ago — before the law under which she has been convicted was even passed — is an outrageous example of state censorship. This decision will create a severe chilling effect for everyone’s right to speak freely.”

Kristen Waggoner, ADF’s CEO and president/chief counsel, said, “This ruling is a stark reminder that no democracy is immune from the erosion of fundamental freedoms. Punishing peaceful expression, especially when it is based on deeply held religious convictions, undermines the very foundation of free societies.”

Räsänen formerly served as Finland’s Minister of the Interior. Pohjola formerly served as the chairman of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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Posted March 27, 2026