The Guardian Sinners fretting about the fate awaiting them in the hereafter may like to consider a move to Finland, where a leading minister of the normally austere Lutheran Church has declared that hell does not exist and everyone will end up in heaven anyway. While 85 percent of Finns nominally belong to the national Lutheran Church, only about 15 percent regularly attend services. But most of them seem to have written angry letters protesting at the ministers' remarks, saying they amount to heresy. But many Finns seem as upset by the church's treatment of its two turbulent priests as by their remarks. The bishops gave Arola a mild roasting but decided against taking formal action.
Priests have the right of free speech and personal opinions as much as anyone else.
The protesters aren't so sure. Frustrated by the bishops' forgiving nature, they have appealed to the parliamentary ombudsman and the supreme administrative court. These men need to see the light. E.W. Scripps Publications , All Rights Reserved. Site users are subject to our User Agreement .