Welcome to the Daily Article podcast. I'm Chris Elkins with the Denison Forum, narrating today's

article written by Dr. Jim Denison. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. Proverbs 10, 11.

Paivi Rassanan is a former Finnish interior minister. In an online article,

a radio interview, and a 2019 tweet, she made comments that Finland's state prosecutor

claims are likely to cause intolerance, contempt, and hatred towards homosexuals.

For example, a photograph attached to a tweet contained verses from the Bible, which, according to

the BBC, appear to describe homosexual acts as shameful.

As a result, the BBC notes,

the court will have to decide whether citing the Bible can be considered a crime in some cases in Finland.

Prosecutors say her statements violate the equality and dignity of homosexuals and therefore go beyond the limit of freedom of speech and religion.

The charges she faces could technically lead to a prison sentence, though prosecutors have asked

that she receive a fine relative to her income.

Rassanan arrived at court last Monday, holding a Bible, and said she was honored to be

defending freedom of speech and religion.

She added, I hope that today it can become clear that I have no wish to offend any group

of people, but this is a question of

saving people for eternal life. Some are calling the allegations she faces a modern day inquisition.

The collision between religious liberty and sexual freedom is escalating daily. Laws banning

conversion therapy have been passed by more than a dozen countries, including France, New

Zealand, and Canada. Critics claim that as a result of such legislation, private conversations with religious leaders,

counselors, and parents are no longer protected.

Born Perfect, a group seeking to outlaw conversion therapy,

...