Ilkka Kanerva to bear cross at St. Thomas Mass in Turku St. Michael's Church on Saturday
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Minister for Foreign Affairs Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coalition Party) is to carry the cross and give a Bible reading at the St. Thomas Mass at St. Michael's Church in Turku on Saturday evening.
Officiating at the mass is another politician, former Turku Bishop, MP Ilkka Kantola (SDP). The first to break the story were Finland's two late-edition tabloid dailies, Ilta Sanomat and Iltalehti.
The vicar of St. Michael's Parish, Jouni Lehikoinen, said that he only learned about Kanerva's appearance at the event on Tuesday. However, publicity resulting from Kanerva's text messaging to a dancer has not led to any criticism that would have reached Lehikoinen's ears.
"St. Michael's Church is the home church of the St. Thomas Mass in Turku. The fact that Ilkka Kanerva is here taking part in the St. Thomas Mass does not mean that we would approve of his alleged text messaging activities. On the other hand, forgiveness is part of our core message, and it is quite appropriate for Ike to read a text under that thought", Lehikoinen said.
Kanerva will carry a large cross into the church along with Marjo Sjöroos, a Turku-based entrepreneur in the modelling business.
Businessman Kari Kouki, one of the elders of the Thomas Mass Community, does not see any problem in allowing Kanerva to have a role in the event.
"This is largely an event organised by laypeople. Ilkka Kanerva is a person, just like the rest of us sinners. I have known him since the 1960s, because we are of the same generation. He has been at the St. Thomas Mass three times already reading texts from The Bible."
Kouki says that Kantola has preached at St. Thomas Masses on numerous occasions.
He also says that Kanerva's appearance was agreed upon already at New Year's, before the text message issue arose. He adds that the furore over the messages could actually boost attendance.
The late night mass begins at 10:00 PM. Before that, opera singer Pentti Hietanen and his family will perform music at the church. The mass service and communion will last until midnight. Turku's St. Michael's Church has a capacity for about 1,300 people.
More on this subject:
 Security Police investigating Kanerva death threats
Links:
St. Thomas Mass (in Helsinki)
Helsingin Sanomat
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