As I read the news today, it seems to me that the Finnish church has a tendency of going over the top when it comes to immigration issues.
In a recent Kyrkpressen story, a reporter wrote excitedly about “old, beloved songs — that have been sung by generations of Sunday school children”. Particularly mentioned was a song by the name of “Svarta Sara” (Black Sara). Not having heard such an interesting title before, I set out to find the lyrics.
What I found was hilarious. The song tells the story of “little black Sara” – apparently Mrs. Sara Makatemele who emigrated from southern Africa to Sweden in the 19th century. Sara has been told by a white teacher that the blood of Jesus can cleanse her. This thought delights her to the point that she sings even on her deathbed. After dying, Sara is found playing the harp – and yes, she is now “white and pink in the blood of the Lamb”.
I wonder how many more generations will learn this happy little racist song…
Meanwhile, the Kuopio parish is reported to hide a Sudanese woman in order to prevent the authorities from deporting her back to Sudan. The parish in question is funded by church tax disbursed by the state, but this doesn’t seem to impede them from obstructing the enforcement of a legal deportation order.
This congregant wishes for the church to get rid of their patronizing attitude that they are the ones to cleanse, hide, or otherwise discriminate for or against immigrants.
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