Recent revelations in the west coast city of Pietersaari, that a Laestadian lay preacher had abused a number of children in recent decades, has sent shock waves through the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Matti Esko, director of family issues at the Office of the Church Council says that a couple of other cases have come out in recent years in which lay workers have sexually abused children.

He notes that background checks do not turn up all cases, as criminal records only reveal convictions involving custodial sentences.

At present, criminal records do not reveal past suspended sentences dating back more than five years. This means that some child abusers or paedophiles can slip through the cracks and get jobs in which they are in contact with children.

“There would be a need to get tougher in Finland. There are much more severe arrangements in Europe, including bans on entering certain professions."

Changes In Store

A working group at the Ministry of Justice is considering changes to legislation on paedophiles.

A paper that is scheduled to come out in March or April is expected to propose tougher measures against adults using the internet to seduce children, as well as the inclusion of crimes of child abuse that have been punished with fines in a person’s official criminal record.