The Supreme Administrative Court has rejected an action brought by Mitro Repo, a Finnish Social Democratic Member of the European Parliament, against the Finnish Orthodox Church.
Repo, an ordained priest in the church, brought legal action against a ruling by the bishops of the church, who banned Repo from serving as a priest while he is a candidate for the European Parliament.
Anticipating his possible election to the post, the bishops also said that he cannot serve as an Orthodox priest during a possible Parliamentary term.
Repo also was banned from using a priest’s cassock, and other insignia related to the priesthood.
Repo was elected to the European Parliament last summer.
The Supreme Administrative Court found that the issue was an internal matter for the Orthodox Church, which has the right to interpret its own doctrines.
The court found nothing illegal about the decision to suspend Repo.
Mitro Repo says that he will appeal the decision to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
