Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
A debate about homosexuality has caused a mass exodus from the State Church of Finland.
More than 30,000 have left over the span of a week.
This is the woman who's caused the mass exodus,
The Christian Democrats' party leader, Päivi Räsänen.
She said during a TV debate on homosexuality
that marriage should only be between a man and a woman,
and that gays shouldn't act on their tendencies.
Sex belongs within a marriage between a man and a woman.
According to the bible, homosexual relations are against the will of God, as I see it.
The church leaders have tried to distance themselves from the party leader's statements,
but a clear majority of the country's bishops are against church weddings for gay couples,
and the debate is creating a schism within the Finnish church.
This makes us aware, as a church, that these issues are so important,
that we can no longer hold off on taking a position.
Finnish gays feel they're still being discriminated.
During the pride parade in Helsinki last summer,
participants were attacked with smoke bombs and pepper spray.
Even the Helsinki offices of the Organisation for *** Equality have been vandalised.
The current debate in Finland is decades behind the debate in Sweden.
I admit that the issue causes controversy and raises strong emotions,
and some are hurt by it.