{"id":2100114,"date":"2023-11-15T18:32:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T23:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmaker-wins-hate-speech-case-over-quoting-bible-i-thank-god-for-this-verdict\/"},"modified":"2023-11-15T18:35:27","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T23:35:27","slug":"lawmaker-wins-hate-speech-case-over-quoting-bible-i-thank-god-for-this-verdict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmaker-wins-hate-speech-case-over-quoting-bible-i-thank-god-for-this-verdict\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmaker Wins &#8216;Hate Speech&#8217; Case Over Quoting Bible: &#8216;I Thank God for This Verdict&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flawmaker-wins-hate-speech-case-over-quoting-bible-i-thank-god-for-this-verdict%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2100114&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Lawmaker Wins &#8216;Hate \u2064Speech&#8217; Case\u200b Over Quoting Bible: &#8216;I Thank God for This Verdict&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s another Orwellian moment \u2064where love is hate just like war is peace.<\/p>\n<p>Christian scripture \u2014 that\u2019s the religion where love is the central\u2064 teaching\u200b \u2014 has been characterized \u200bas hate speech by a government prosecutor in Finland, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/finnish-lawmaker-wins-second-hate-speech-case-quoting-bible\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Finnish state prosecutor Anu Mantila\u2064 attempted to\u200d punish two Christians\u200d for,\u200d well, being Christian. P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen \u2014 a 62-year-old\u200b medical doctor,\u2063 member of Parliament and grandmother \u200bof seven \u2014 and Juhana Pohjola \u2014 a Luthern \u2064Bishop \u2014 were charged with the crime\u2064 of being intolerant of homosexuals. \u2064The \u2064offense? They shared <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Romans+1%3A24-27&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Romans 1:24-27<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cTherefore God gave them up\u200d in the lusts of their hearts \u200cto impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged\u200c the truth about\u2063 God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who\u2062 is blessed forever!\u2062 Amen,\u201d Paul taught.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor this reason\u200d God gave\u2064 them up \u2063to \u200cdishonorable passions. For their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/granny-faces-second-hate-speech-trial-for-tweeting-bible-verses-dignity-of-homosexuals-must-be-protected-finnish-prosecutors\/\" title=\"Granny on Second Trial for Tweeting Bible Verses, Protecting Homosexuals' Dignity: Finnish Prosecutors\">women exchanged natural relations<\/a> for those \u200bthat are\u2064 contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmaker-wins-hate-speech-case-over-quoting-bible-i-thank-god-for-this-verdict\/\" title=\"Lawmaker Wins 'Hate Speech' Case Over Quoting Bible: 'I Thank God for This Verdict'\">men committing shameless\u200d acts<\/a> with men\u2063 and receiving \u2062in themselves the due penalty \u2062for their error.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>If you\u2019re a \u200dChristian, you can\u2019t simply \u2062sweep <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/christian-teacher-banned-teaching-good-calling-girl-girl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biblical teaching<\/a> under the rug because it isn\u2019t in vogue. Christians \u2064are to stand witness to the word and proclaim \u2063the truth\u200b of scripture. If a\u200c certain portion of the population doesn\u2019t like it, they are free to\u200c ignore it. No harm, no foul.<\/p>\n<p>R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Pohjola were not demanding the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/lgbt-leftists-allege-betrayal-muslim-city-council-pride-flag-ban-stabbing-us-back\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LGBT population<\/a> be locked up. They\u200b were doing what they\u200d could \u2014 according to their faith \u2014 to save \u200bsouls in danger of \u200bbeing lost. They were doing it not out of hate but love.<\/p>\n<p>The prosecution attempted to characterize the defendants\u2019 sharing of scripture along with a 2004\u2063 pamphlet titled \u201cMale \u2063and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relations Challenge the Christian Concept of Humanity\u201d as an attempt to spread intolerance of homosexuality, Fox reported. If they succeeded in their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/scaros-deep-state-real-troubling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">diabolical scheme<\/a>, contempt and hatred toward homosexuals would flourish.<\/p>\n<p>I wonder what Mantila would say if someone asked her if she\u200d would admonish someone if it might save their life.\u200b R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2064 and Pohjola were trying to save souls. It doesn\u2019t \u200cmatter if Mantila believes in good or not \u2014 \u2062R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Pohjola do.<\/p>\n<p>This was \u200dthe second time the two Christians were put on trial\u200d for being intolerant of homosexuality. They were acquitted for the first time in March 2022, \u2064according to Fox.<\/p>\n<p>In\u200c the appeals trial, Manitlda said \u201cYou can cite the Bible, but it is R\u00e4s\u00e4nen\u2019s interpretation and opinion about the Bible verses that are criminal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Huh? Is Mantilda saying\u2063 the state is in a better position to interpret\u2063 scripture than a \u200cLutheran Bishop? Is she advocating a state religion? Is she trying to say\u2062 the state \u2064is God?\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/literal-gov-supported-blasphemy-congregation-defends-church-mobs-desecration-eve-holy-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Blasphemy<\/a> and shame!<\/p>\n<p>The court wasn\u2019t buying what the \u200dprosecution was selling. The Christians were once again found not guilty of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/granny-faces-second-hate-speech-trial-tweeting-bible-verses-dignity-homosexuals-must-protected-finnish-prosecutors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hate speech<\/a> by a court of appeals in Helsinki this week. The Court of Appeals\u2063 concluded it \u201chas no reason, on the \u200bbasis of the evidence received at the main hearing, to assess the case in any respect differently from the District Court. There is \u2062therefore no reason to alter the final result of the District Court\u2019s judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Free at last. \u2062At least for now. Prosecutors may still attempt to take the \u200ccase to the Supreme Court of \u2064Finland, according\u2063 to Fox.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am deeply relieved,\u201d R\u00e4s\u00e4nen said after the verdict. \u201cThe court\u200b has fully endorsed and upheld the decision of the district \u200bcourt, \u2064which \u2064recognized everyone\u2019s right to free speech.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt isn\u2019t\u2063 a crime to tweet a Bible verse, or \u200dto engage in\u2063 public \u2064discourse with\u200c a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/christian-high-school-student-vindicated-allegedly-forced-participate-hinduistic-rituals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christian<\/a> perspective,\u201d R\u00e4s\u00e4nen continued. \u201cThe attempts made to prosecute me \u200dfor expressing my beliefs have resulted in an immensely trying four years, but my hope is that the result will stand as a key precedent to \u2064protect the\u2063 human right to free speech.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf writings based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-college-takes-biden-to-court-over-trans-mandate\/\" title=\"Christian College Takes Biden to Court Over Trans Mandate\">biblical teachings<\/a> were to be condemned, that would mean a\u200d serious restriction of freedom of religion,\u201d she observed. \u200d\u201cIt is natural that \u200dthis would raise concerns among Christians both \u200din Finland and internationally.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The court\u2019s decision protects Christians from unwarranted political prosecution. Christianity is the \u2064foundation of Western civilization. Those who despise the West see Christianity as their great \u2062enemy. \u2063R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and\u2062 Pohjola\u2019s \u2064victory is \u2064a victory for all that is good.<\/p>\n<p>The fact wasn\u2019t lost on Texas GOP Congressman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/chip-roy-loses-party-fiery-speech-compares-moment-alamo-tired-words\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chip Roy<\/a> who has worked\u2062 in the international effort to defend R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Pohjola, according to Fox. Roy cheered the Finnish court\u2019s decision as a triumph for\u200b free \u200dexpression.<\/p>\n<p>Roy told Fox News Digital, \u201cA guilty verdict would have criminalized\u2064 Christianity, silenced Christians, stifled religious \u2063freedom across Europe, and catalyzed\u200c further attacks on the foundations of Western Civilization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thank God for this verdict,\u201d he continued,\u200b \u201cfor P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Bishop Pohjola\u2019s courage in defense of the Gospel, and the efforts of Alliance Defending Freedom International and other groups like\u200d Family Research Council\u2064 for their\u200c hard work and advocacy on this \u200dcase.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thank\u200d God indeed. Onward Christian soldiers.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>Questions:<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Lawmaker Wins &#8216;Hate \u2064Speech&#8217; Case\u200b Over Quoting Bible: &#8216;I\u2064 Thank God for This\u2062 Verdict&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>It is another\u2064 Orwellian moment, where love is hate just like war \u2062is\u2063 peace. In a recent case\u200b in Finland, Christian scripture has been characterized as \u2064hate speech by a \u2063government prosecutor. This shocking incident is a clear violation of freedom of speech and an\u200d attack\u2063 on religious freedom.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2062 Finnish state\u200c prosecutor, Anu Mantila, attempted to punish two Christians, P\u00e4ivi\u2063 R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and\u200d Juhana Pohjola, for simply\u2064 being Christian. R\u00e4s\u00e4nen, a 62-year-old medical doctor and member of Parliament,\u2062 and Pohjola, a Lutheran Bishop, were charged with the crime of being\u200c intolerant of homosexuals. Their offense? They shared\u2063 a \u2063passage from\u2063 the Bible, specifically Romans 1:24-27.<\/p>\n<p>The shared passage from Romans highlights how God gave up people to\u200c their lusts, exchanging the truth about God for a lie and worshiping creatures\u2063 rather than the\u200b Creator.\u200d It also\u200b discusses \u200bthe dishonorable passions and unnatural \u200crelations that result from turning away from \u2062God&#8217;s \u200cdesign for human relationships.<\/p>\n<p>As Christians, it is our duty to stand witness to the word of God and proclaim the truth of scripture. If a certain\u200b portion of the population disagrees with it, they are free to ignore\u2064 it. The \u200cact of sharing\u200b biblical \u200dteachings should \u200dnot be \u200bseen as a form of hate speech. R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and \u2064Pohjola were not\u2064 advocating for\u200d the persecution or harm\u200d of\u2064 the LGBT population. \u2062They were\u2064 simply following their faith and trying to save souls.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2063prosecution attempted to twist the defendants&#8217; sharing of \u200cscripture and a pamphlet\u200d titled\u200d &#8220;Male and Female He Created Them: \u2062Homosexual Relations Challenge the Christian Concept\u200d of\u2064 Humanity&#8221; into an attempt to spread intolerance of homosexuality. This is a gross mischaracterization of their intentions and a violation \u2064of their right to free speech.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200c second trial resulted \u200din the \u200bsame verdict as the first: R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Pohjola were found not guilty of hate speech. The court upheld their right to free speech and rejected the prosecution&#8217;s \u200dattempt to criminalize their interpretation and opinion of the Bible. This verdict is a victory for religious freedom \u2062and freedom of speech in Finland.<\/p>\n<p>However, the\u200b fight may not be \u200cover yet. Prosecutors may still attempt \u2063to take the\u2064 case to\u200c the Supreme \u2064Court of\u2062 Finland. It is crucial that the\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-judge-shuts-down-hunter-bidens-big-request-saying-he-should-not-receive-special-treatment\/\" title=\"Federal judge denies Hunter Biden's request, citing no special treatment.\">legal system continues<\/a> to uphold the principles of\u200b free speech and religious freedom in this case.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I \u200dam deeply\u2063 relieved,&#8221; R\u00e4s\u00e4nen stated after\u2064 the verdict. &#8220;The \u200dcourt has fully endorsed\u2064 and upheld the decision of \u2062the district court, which recognized everyone<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a disturbing Orwellian twist, love is deemed hate and war is considered peace. Shockingly, Finnish state prosecutor Anu Mantila has labeled Christian scripture, which emphasizes love, as hate speech. Two Christians faced punishment simply for practicing their faith, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. (55 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2131,"featured_media":2100115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2100114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2100114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2100115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2100114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2100114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2100114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}