A retired evangelist from South Ostrobothnia, Finland, has made headlines after being caught engaging in public masturbation three times over the past year, with incidents reported to have occurred in parks, including in front of small children. This man, who is over eighty years old, continues to volunteer at his local church despite his questionable public behavior. The pastor of the congregation expressed surprise upon learning about these incidents, indicating that no prior allegations had come to his attention before the news correspondent's inquiry.

According to Iltalehti, the returned fines for these acts of public indecency reflect the seriousness of the offenses, with the most recent sanction being handed down in December of the previous year, which saw the fine increased due to the particularly disturbing circumstances surrounding it. Although there had been vague rumors regarding the man's conduct circulating within the community, the pastor refrained from elaborating on their nature, as all communications pertaining to these matters have been anonymous. As a result, the church was unable to respond or investigate these rumors more thoroughly.

This situation raises questions not only about the conduct of a respected community member but also about the church's responsibility in addressing allegations against its members. The community's reaction to the evangelist's behavior could lead to discussions about public morality, the role of religious institutions in managing the conduct of their volunteers, and the impact that such actions have on the perception of faith leaders within society.