Thousands leave Finnish Lutheran Church to protest antigay campaign

Pink News reports that about 3,000 people have reportedly left the Lutheran Evangelical Association of Finland after a campaign against homosexuality.

     The week-long campaign, called “älä alistu” (“don’t acquiesce”) was organized by several Christian groups, ended this weekend, and was met with anger.

It claimed that gay people can become straight and urged youths not to give in to thoughts of homosexuality.
     In one promotional video, a young woman called Anni describes how she stopped being bisexual. She also compares her situation to that of a reformed murderer.
     The Lutheran Evangelical Association of Finland did not lead the campaign, it gives money to the organisations which did.
     Members of the Lutheran Evangelical Association of Finland, which is Finland’s national church, pay money to support the church and those it subsidises.
     By Thursday, 3,000 people had signed an online petition declaring that they were leaving the church, YLE reports.
     Kari Mäkinen, Archbishop of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church, criticised the campaign and said it should be stopped.