Parishes in Kuopio and Varkaus have banned lay preacher Pirkko Jalovaara from speaking during prayer sessions at churches in Kallavesi, Kuopio and in Varkaus early next month.
Kallavesi vicar Matti Pentikäinen said that the kinds of statements made by Jalovaara should be immediately withdrawn. On Monday, Yle’s investigative programme MOT featured a prayer session led by Jalovaara, in which she attempted to heal the sick with prayer.
Among other things, Jalovaara said that illnesses had been caused by demons and that “the devil enters people through medicine”. Pentikäinen said that these kinds of statements are shocking and aggravating.
Over the line
“The clip from the programme was indisputable and clear evidence that we cannot include Jalovaara as a speaker in prayer events,” he added.
Pentikäinen said he had also discussed the matter with Kuopio bishop Jari Jolkkonen, however he had not yet spoken directly with Jalovaara herself.
According to Varkaus vicar Olli Tynkkynen, Jalovaara, who had visited the Varkaus parish several times, had clearly crossed the line.
“There had not been this kind of emphasis in Jalovaara’s work before – this talk about demons and sickness. She has now crossed the limit,” Tynkkynen declared.
The Kallavesi church in Kuopio originally planned a prayer weekend featuring Jalovaara for March 8-10.
