Higher Ground With Billy Hallowell

A member of Finland's parliament who has faced a years-long legal battle for sharing a Bible verse on social media is refusing to back down from her freedom fight.

Päivi Räsänen told "Higher Ground With Billy Hallowell" her legal battle began more than five years ago when she challenged Finland's main religious body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, questioning why it had "decided to support, financially and publicly" a local Pride parade.

"It was a disappointment and even shock to me and many others," she said. "Many of my friends decided to resign the church, and I was also praying ... 'What should I do now?' I was very worried about this very public statement of the leadership of the church because I was worried that it will undermine people's trust on Bible and its authority."

Ms. Räsänen decided to take to Twitter to share text from Romans 1, where the Apostle Paul addresses sexual ethics. She added a question to church leadership about their position in support of Pride. 

"After that, some citizen made a criminal complaint and the police started to investigate the case," Ms. Räsänen continued. "At the beginning, I didn't believe it. I just read it from the newspaper that police [had] started to investigate the case and I phoned to the policeman and he said, 'Yes, we are investigating it.'"

Now, she faces a major trial over her religious expression. Listen to Ms. Räsänen share the full story.

FOLLOW BILLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

- Follow Billy on Twitter
- Follow Billy on Instagram
- Follow Billy on Facebook
- Follow Billy on YouTube
- Follow Billy on Threads