Western Reader
There is growing concern about religious freedom as several Christians across Europe and other parts of the world face potential imprisonment due to their religious beliefs. These cases have sparked worries about similar conflicts reaching the United States.
One notable case is that of Päivi Räsänen, a member of Parliament in Finland, who found herself in a legal battle after expressing her religious views on social media. She questioned the Evangelical Lutheran Church’s support for a Pride event, citing a verse from the book of Romans about same-sex relationships. This led to a citizen filing a criminal complaint against her, triggering a police investigation.
Pray for millions of Christians persecuted by the Hindu nationalist Modi government in India. American media continues to live in denial. Hindu nationalism is strong not only in India but it is trying to gain a foothold in the US by sweet taking gullible American voters. Pray one… pic.twitter.com/zbzXNXcfqd
— Indian American Christians (@Fiacona_us) September 4, 2023
Räsänen was acquitted of all charges last year, but prosecutors appealed the case, leading to a second trial. She is currently awaiting the verdict of this subsequent battle, remaining confident of victory. Despite the potential punishment of two years in jail or a fine, Räsänen remains steadfast, citing the freedom of speech and religion enshrined in the Finnish Constitution.
In Malta, Matthew Grech, a former LGBT activist, also faces potential prison time for sharing his journey of leaving a gay lifestyle to follow Christ. After mentioning an organization that supports individuals who wish to leave the LGBT community during a program, Grech was reported to the police for violating Maltese law which bans advertising so-called “conversion therapy.” He could face up to five months in jail or a fine of up to 5,000 euros.
The United Kingdom is facing similar issues, with abortion clinic buffer zones preventing people from assembling, counseling, and even silently praying outside these facilities. One example is the case of U.K. Army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, who was questioned by officers for silently praying outside a clinic for his aborted son.
When a land criminalizes Scripture as the foundation of a legitimate faith for Christians, they have in fact criminalized Christianity. There is no genuine Christian faith apart from a historical grammatical understanding of Scripture…
— Charles Johnson 🇺🇸⚓️ (@soli_Jesum) November 28, 2022
Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, a European religious rights nonprofit, highlights these concerns and warns that similar laws could make their way to the United States if Americans do not pay attention. She emphasizes the need to stay vigilant against civil measures that gradually take on a quasi-criminal force, compounded by political pressure.
Jeremy Dys, senior counsel of First Liberty, acknowledges that there is no easy answer to whether the criminalization of Christianity could happen in the U.S. He hopes the risk is low but admits it isn’t zero. Dys points out that the fight for religious liberty is already ongoing in the U.S., with people of faith constantly facing questions about their religion in the workplace and public square.
Dys believes that preventing the chaos seen in other nations from reaching the U.S. depends on Americans’ commitment to freedom. He encourages Americans to protect these freedoms through prayer, staying informed, and exercising their right to vote.
As we witness the disturbing criminalization of Christianity overseas, it is crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in preserving our religious liberties. The question remains: Will America heed these warnings before it is too late?
This article appeared in The Patriot Brief and has been published here with permission.
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