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Representatives of 45 Lutheran church bodies called on the Finnish government to not prosecute her.<ref>[https://ilc-online.org/2021/07/29/a-protest-and-call-for-free-religious-speech-in-finland/ A Protest and Call for Free Religious Speech in Finland], June 29, 2021, ''International Lutheran Council''</ref> She was likewise supported by the European Evangelical Alliance and the Spanish Evangelical Alliance.<ref>[https://worldea.org/news/european-evangelical-alliance-sends-letter-to-finnish-government-expressing-dismay-over-paivi-rasanen-case/ European Evangelical Alliance Sends Letter to Finnish Government Expressing "Dismay" Over Päivi Räsänen Case], European Evangelical Alliance news, May 17, 2021</ref> Five senators from the United States warned the [[United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom]] that the decision to prosecute them risked creating a "secular blasphemy law" to persecute Christians, Muslims, and Jews.<ref>[https://www.christiantoday.com/article/us.senators.fear.finnish.mps.trial.could.pave.the.way.for.more.prosecutions.of.christians/138084.htm US senators fear Finnish MP's trial could pave the way for more prosecutions of Christians] by Julian Mann, ''Christian Today'', 25 January 2022; text of letter at [https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e4c3c5df-3aaf-4767-857a-74de2b8f9d5b/C8AA68A336A5B4A8B246832018F9B026.01.24.22-smr-letter-to-irf-ambassador-re-religious-freedom-in-finland.pdf 01.24.22 Letter to IRF Ambassador]</ref> Ten academics from the United States signed an open letter to the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]] stating that the "prosecutions are straightforward acts of oppression".<ref>[https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2021/05/28/a_letter_to_the_us_commission_on_international_religious_freedom__145839.html?fbclid=IwAR370iDXQMUFCRUyeGfIH12hDT0egvy3B7DI8teP_SFLUgYTVwLw4fobIsg A Letter to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom] by Peter Berkowitz, Keegan Callanan, Carlos Eire, Robert P. George, Mary Ann Glendon, Sergiu Klainerman, John B. Londregan, Jacqueline C. Rivers, David Rivkin, and Adrian Vermeule, ''RealClearPolitics'', May 28, 2021</ref>
The District Court found her and Pohjola not guilty of all charges on March 30, 2022.<ref>[https://reporter.lcms.org/2022/finnish-lutherans-fully-acquitted/ Finnish Lutherans fully acquitted] by Kevin Armbrust, ''reporter.lcms.org'', March 30, 2022</ref> In response to the ruling, the prosecutor Anu Mantila stated that the [[Judicial system of Finland#District Courts|District Court]] "interpreted the statements differently than the prosecution and that's why they viewed that the limits of freedom of speech weren't breached{{nbsp}}... It’s my impression that this is because the elements that infringed on equality and the prohibition of discrimination weren't taken into consideration accordingly." Mantila stated that the verdict was incorrect and unjust and said there was "a high probability" she would appeal it.<ref>[https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/21268-finnish-lawmaker-acquitted-of-charges-over-derogatory-comments-on-homosexuals.html Finnish lawmaker acquitted of charges over derogatory comments on homosexuals] by Aleksi Teivainen, ''Helsinki Times'' March 31, 2022</ref>
== Stance on abortion ==
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