Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen has been awarded the prestigious Dominus Vitae Award by U.S.-based ministry Lutherans For Life, honoring her courage in standing up for biblical truth and human dignity despite facing severe public opposition and legal challenges in Europe.
The award, whose title translates to the "Lord of Life Award," was presented Friday evening at the organization’s annual gala in Des Moines, Iowa. It is the ministry's highest distinction, given to leaders who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to advocating for the sanctity of human life.
Räsänen, a medical doctor, longtime Finnish lawmaker, and former Minister of the Interior, has been a prominent global voice for religious freedom and traditional Christian ethics. Her selection for the award reflects international recognition for her stance on biblical marriage.
Reflecting on the award given to her, Räsänen pointed to the contrast between the vibrant advocacy among American believers and the current state of the Church in her home nation.
"I accept this recognition with humility and gratitude," Räsänen said. "I am encouraged that American Lutherans affirm the value of every human life and openly defend the right to life of even the smallest and most vulnerable among us. There is much that Finnish Lutheranism could learn from this example."
Räsänen officially filed an appeal of a hate speech conviction with the European Court of Human Rights on July 24, as previously reported by Christian Daily International.
The move is the latest front in a seven-year battle with landmark implications for freedom of speech and religion. The Supreme Court of Finland convicted Räsänen, a member of parliament since 1995 and former interior minister, in a narrow 3-2 decision on March 26.
The conviction centered on statements expressing biblical views on marriage and human sexuality in a 2004 booklet titled “Male and Female He Created Them.” The court fined Räsänen 1,800 euros ($1,950) and ordered her to cover her legal costs, overturning two previous acquittals by lower courts.
Founded in 1978, Lutherans For Life works to equip Christians to address life issues from a gospel-centered, biblical perspective. The non-partisan organization addresses a broad spectrum of ethical concerns, including abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, disability rights, and end-of-life care.
Previous recipients of the Dominus Vitae Award include former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker, theologian and bioethicist Gilbert Meilaender, and pro-life speaker Melissa Ohden, an abortion survivor.
