Helsinki - Finland's dominant Lutheran Church could be facing an epidemic of heresy after one of its priests denied the existence of hell and another claimed Jesus was married. Some Finns have been outraged as much by the claims as by the church's refusal to punish the offenders, apparently on the grounds that it would infringe their right to free speech.
Last week, the church reprimanded but stopped short of dismissing the Rev Olli Arola, who said that Jesus might have been married to Mary Magdalene and cast doubt over the virgin birth.