According to Archbishop Tapio Luoma, echoes of Trumpism can be seen here on controversial issues such as the ordination of women and same-sex marriage, as well as the use of harsher language.
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Lutheran Archbishop Tapio Luoma made the comments in a Yle interview on Friday. Image: Juha Metso / AOP
The leader of Finland’s dominant Evangelical Lutheran Church, Archbishop Tapio Luoma, has expressed concern about a new kind of right-wing Christianity spreading in Finland, inspired by US President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.
“There are many worrying aspects to this. Christian nationalism in particular is frightening, if you want it to become the mainstream form of Christian faith,” Luoma said in a Yle interview on Friday.
According to Luoma, echoes of Trumpism can be seen here on controversial issues such as the ordination of women and same-sex marriage, as well as the use of harsher language.
“Trump’s use of language and the Christian faith appeals to many people,” he said, adding that there are doubts about Trump’s own Christianity.
Opposition to female priesthood growing
The Finnish Lutheran Church has been riven by controversy over female priesthood for four decades. The issue is showing no signs of abating, although women have been ordained as pastors since 1988. More than half of pastors are now women, along with four out of nine bishops.
The archbishop said he is saddened by recent events, such as unauthorised masses arranged by a revivalist movement opposing female priesthood in Pori.
“The situation has been on the verge of escalating. Unfortunately, there is no path in sight that would lead to a good way forward. I personally aim to work towards increasing understanding,” said Luoma.
According to the archbishop, there are parallels between the opposition to women priests and the US brand of evangelical Christianity.
“Opponents of female priesthood are not necessarily fundamentalists, but on this issue in particular they want to take literally what the Bible said about the position of women,” he observed.
Luoma is concerned that Trump’s use of religion as a pawn for political purposes could be echoed in Finland. In his view, the idea of ​​harnessing an entire society to the Christian faith seems alien.
“Of course, that is something that, according to the Lutheran understanding, cannot be thought of as societal life,” he said.
“Racism is a sin”
Luoma also commented on the recent uproar over racist social media posts by politicians from the Finns’ Party – a government partner of the Christian Democrats.
According to Luoma, this kind of intolerance has undoubtedly been reinforced by American trends.
“It’s easy to mock and ridicule whatever seems foreign and strange. And I think that any kind of racism is definitely wrong and a sin,” he said.
Around 62 percent of Finland’s population is registered as Lutheran, down from 85 percent at the turn of the millennium.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church have a special status as national churches. They have the right to levy tax, and receive public funding for handling societal responsibilities such as record-keeping, maintenance of cemeteries and churches, as well as some social services.