{"id":2584158,"date":"2026-03-26T15:32:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T19:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/finnish-mp-convicted-for-2004-pamphlet-calling-homosexuality-a-disorder\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T15:35:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T19:35:37","slug":"finnish-mp-convicted-for-2004-pamphlet-calling-homosexuality-a-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/finnish-mp-convicted-for-2004-pamphlet-calling-homosexuality-a-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Finnish MP convicted for 2004 pamphlet calling homosexuality a &#8216;disorder&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/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%2Ffinnish-mp-convicted-for-2004-pamphlet-calling-homosexuality-a-disorder%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=2584158&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--><p>Finnish MP P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen,a member of teh Christian democrats,and Lutheran Bishop Juhana pohjola were found guilty by Finland\u2019s Supreme Court of incitement against a minority group for a 2004 religious pamphlet that described homosexuality as a \u201cdevelopmental disorder.\u201d The court ruled 3-2 that publishing and making the pamphlet available insulted a minority, and both R\u00e4s\u00e4nen and Pohjola were ordered to pay fines (R\u00e4s\u00e4nen about $2,100 and Pohjola\u2019s publishing house about $6,000) plus their own legal fees. This conviction follows earlier acquittals at the Helsinki District Court (2022) and court of Appeals (2023). The Supreme court unanimously acquitted R\u00e4s\u00e4nen of a separate hate-speech charge tied to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-left-is-wrong-about-overpopulation\/\" title=\"Left&#039;s Overpopulation Misconception\">2019 social media post<\/a>,and prosecutors did not appeal that aspect of the case. R\u00e4s\u00e4nen has long defended her stance as a matter of religious freedom and expression and is reportedly considering an appeal to the European Court of Human rights.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Finnish MP and Lutheran bishop convicted for 2004 pamphlet calling homosexuality a &lsquo;disorder&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2216317\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>P&auml;ivi R&auml;s&auml;nen, a member of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/finland\/\">Finnish Parliament<\/a>, has been convicted by the nation&rsquo;s supreme court for a religious pamphlet published in 2004.<\/p>\n<p>The court found R&auml;s&auml;nen, who has been entangled in legal tumoil for over four years, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/mar\/26\/finnish-mp-paivi-rasanen-convicted-homosexuality-developmental-disorder\">guilty<\/a> of &ldquo;incitement against a minority group.&rdquo; The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/christianity\/\">Lutheran<\/a> pamphlet &mdash; titled &ldquo;<em>Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relationships Challenge the Christian Understanding of Humanity<\/em>&rdquo; &mdash; described homosexuality as a &ldquo;developmental disorder.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4504899\/todd-blanche-targets-robert-mueller-cpac-russia-investigation-hoax\/\">Blanche targets Mueller at CPAC, calls Russia investigation a &lsquo;hoax&rsquo; that &lsquo;almost brought down&rsquo; Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4504595\/nicolas-maduro-cilia-flores-first-court-appearance\/\">Ousted Venezuelan dictator and his wife head back to court for first time since arrest<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4504524\/trump-doj-ramps-up-denaturalization-for-migrants-who-hid-crimes\/\">Trump DOJ ramps up denaturalization for migrants who hid crimes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I am shocked and profoundly disappointed that the court has failed to recognize my basic human right to freedom of expression,&rdquo; the member of parliament said following the judgment. &ldquo;I stand by the teachings of my Christian faith, and will continue to defend my and every person&rsquo;s right to share their convictions in the public square.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chairwoman P&auml;ivi R&auml;s&auml;nen of the Christian Democrats attends the parliamentary elections media reception at the parliament in Helsinki, Sunday April 19, 2015. (AP Photo \/ LEHTIKUVA \/ Jussi Nukari \/ Lehtikuva via AP) FINLAND OUT NO SALES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;This is not about my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/project-veritas-strips-cnn-naked\/\" title=\"Project Veritas Strips CNN Naked\">free speech<\/a> alone, but that of every person in Finland,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;A positive ruling would help to prevent other innocent people from experiencing the same ordeal for simply sharing their beliefs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The court voted 3-2 in favor of convicting her of &ldquo;making and keeping available to the public a text that insults&nbsp;a&nbsp;group,&rdquo; alongside Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola for publishing the pamphlet. They initially heard the case in October of last year.<\/p>\n<p>R&auml;s&auml;nen will be required to pay a nearly $2,100 fine for her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lgbt-issues\/\">&ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-viral-olympics-moment-female-fighter-hilariously-roasts-boxer-who-failed-gender-test\/\" title=\"Watch Viral Olympics Moment: Female Fighter Hilariously Roasts Boxer Who Failed Gender Test\">hate speech&#038;rdquo<\/a>; infraction<\/a>, which falls under the legal category of &ldquo;war crimes and crimes against humanity&rdquo; according to Finnish law. She will also be required to cover her own legal fees.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-facebook-post-claims-pope-francis-has-appointed-klaus-schwab-as-universal-bishop\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Facebook Post Claims Pope Francis Has Appointed Klaus Schwab As \u2018Universal Bishop\u2019\">bishop&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s publishing house, Finnish Lutheran Foundation, will also be required to pay a fine of almost $6,000.<\/p>\n<p>R&auml;s&auml;nen has been pursued with legal action multiple times over the past decade for her religious positions, beginning in 2019 when she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bible\/\">quoted the Bible<\/a> against the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland&rsquo;s participation in an LGBT Pride event.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;How can the church&rsquo;s doctrinal foundation, the Bible, be compatible with the lifting up of shame and sin as a subject of pride?&rdquo; she asked in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PaiviRasanen\/status\/2020621448222544075\">2019 tweet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>State prosecutors attempted to convict her for the pamphlet, the social media post, and her comments during a radio roundtable in 2019 on the topic of homosexuality and Christianity.<\/p>\n<p>The Helsinki District Court acquitted her of all three counts in 2022. Prosecutors then took the charges to the Court of Appeals, which also acquitted her in 2023.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/videos\/4480805\/liberty-university-zinski-oral-arguments-transgender\/\">APPEALS COURT PREPARES TO WEIGH CLASH OF TRANSGENDER AND RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While the Supreme Court found her guilty in relation to the pamphlet, the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >judges unanimously acquitted<\/a> her of the hate speech charge related to her 2019 social media post.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors did not seek to appeal the case related to her appearance on the debate program, so no ruling was given.<\/p>\n<p>R&auml;s&auml;nen has previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.house.gov\/meetings\/JU\/JU00\/20260204\/118923\/HHRG-119-JU00-Wstate-RsnenP-20260204.pdf\">testified before the U.S. Congress<\/a> on the subject of censorship in Europe and the suppression of religious sentiment.<\/p>\n<p>She is reportedly considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a paraphrase of the article:<\/p>\n<p>Finland\u2019s Supreme Court found P\u00e4ivi R\u00e4s\u00e4nen, a member of Parliament and a Lutheran bishop, guilty of incitement for a 2004 religious pamphlet that called homosexuality a developmental disorder. The 3-2 ruling also convicted Bishop Juhana Pohjola for publishing the pamphlet. R\u00e4s\u00e4nen faces a fine of about $2,100 and must cover her legal costs; Pohjola\u2019s publishing house, the Finnish Lutheran Foundation, faces a fine of about $6,000. R\u00e4s\u00e4nen argued the verdict infringes freedom of expression and said she will defend her right to share her beliefs, while prosecutors had previously failed to convict her on related charges in lower courts. The case has spanned years, with earlier appeals overturning related counts, making this the first Supreme Court conviction on this particular charge; she has indicated potential appeals to the European Court of Human Rights.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline option:<br \/>\nFinnish MP and bishop convicted over 2004 pamphlet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2584159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP456665279996.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[76604,7625,76603,41110],"class_list":["post-2584158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-2004-pamphlet","tag-finland","tag-finnish-mp","tag-lgbt-rights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP456665279996.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2584158","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\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2584158"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2584158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2584162,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2584158\/revisions\/2584162"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2584159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2584158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2584158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2584158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}