
We Cannot Say We Weren’t Warned
It might seem overblown to call this appeals hearing the Trial of the Century. It’s not. The ability of people in every society of the West to speak freely about what they believe is true is on trial.

It might seem overblown to call this appeals hearing the Trial of the Century. It’s not. The ability of people in every society of the West to speak freely about what they believe is true is on trial.

Religious freedom was repeatedly violated during COVID. Yet it is essential for everyone—not only for people of faith. It enables all people to live according to their conscience, regardless of their religious convictions.

Should Germany follow through with its censorship policies, a legal clash will be inevitable. But for now, the right to pray and gather peacefully has been affirmed.

The European Commission’s proposal to require member states to recognize surrogacy as an acceptable form of parenthood disregards the best interest of children and fails to uphold the principle of subsidiarity.

During COVID, Western nations did the unthinkable by banning religious gatherings and services. Many states deemed ‘inessential’ what all believers consider most essential: the act of gathering together to worship God.

The roots of oppressive censorship are one and the same. Europe’s ‘hate speech’ laws are a secular equivalent to blasphemy laws—both hinder people from living and speaking freely.

The right to freedom of religion and belief, enshrined in international law, includes the right to manifest one’s belief both in private and public. It is not for politicians or the government to dictate what words we direct toward God or to interpret religious scripture.

Let’s take Finnish MP Räsänen’s words to heart: “Now it is time to speak. Because the more we are silent, the narrower the space for freedom of speech and religion grows.”

It was exactly one year ago, on a cold, dark winter evening in January 2022, when Paul Coleman arrived in Helsinki for the modern-day heresy trial of Finnish MP Dr. Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola.

Failing to defend the right to speak freely helps to foster a culture in which people must self-censor, leading to a society that is radically changed for the worse.