A retired United Kingdom pastor is awaiting sentencing after being arraigned Wednesday on criminal charges related to a gospel sermon he preached near a hospital.
Clive Johnston, 77, July 7, 2024, faces two charges from the John 3:16 sermon he delivered near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.
Prosecutors claimed she breached Northern Ireland’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Areas) Act 2023 by promoting abortions near hospitals. If convicted, he could face a criminal record and a fine of up to £2,500 ($3,376).
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According to the Christian Institute, which is supporting his legal case, Johnston may be the first person prosecuted under the law for preaching a sermon unrelated to abortion in a protected area.
At a hearing at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, a district judge announced that he would reserve judgment until May 7, according to the legal group.
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Newly released police bodycam video of the July 2024 incident was shared with Fox News Digital on Wednesday. In the video, an officer approaches Johnston to tell him he is in a clearly marked safe access area and cannot film or broadcast in the area.
“You can say to yourself, in the goodness of my heart, ‘I’m coming here to preach the word of God,'” the officer says at one point. “However, if you are careless, it could affect patients, staff or any protected person, then you are committing an offence.”
“It’s an incredible idea,” Johnston responded in the video. “Because what you’re saying is the Word of God, which the country has had freedom to proclaim and read in church for hundreds of years, the freedom after Magna Carta can suddenly become offensive because it’s outside the hospital.”
The officer told Johnston that if he wanted a “safe area” to give him “religious guidance or comfort or help,” he could go inside the hospital’s chaplaincy area.
“But when you’re here in a safe access area, any act in that area that prevents any safe person from receiving services, harasses them or causes them distress, is a crime,” he added.
Prosecutors accused Johnston of “directly or indirectly influencing a protected person” by “protesting” near the hospital, in violation of the 2023 law. He is also accused of failing to leave the safe access area when instructed.
The Christian Institute said Johnston’s sermon did not mention abortion.
Before the hearing, the US State Department expressed concern about Johnston’s case.
The US State Department said it continues to “monitor” a number of buffer zone cases in the United Kingdom.
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“The US is still monitoring a number of ‘buffer zone’ cases in the UK, as well as other acts of censorship across Europe,” the department told the Telegraph.
Referring to other cases of Christians prosecuted under abortion laws for silent prayer, the department added, “Britain’s persecution of silent prayer not only represents a gross violation of fundamental rights to free speech and religious freedom, but also a departure from the shared values that should underpin US-UK relations.”
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Simon Calvert, deputy director of the Christian Institute, said Johnston’s prosecution set a troubling new precedent in the UK.
“Should a law designed to prevent opposition to abortion be used to criminalize evangelism? John 3:16 is a wonderful, famous verse, and everyone knows it says nothing about abortion,” he said in a press release.
“We have amazing freedom in this country to share the Christian message. That’s why we’re bringing this case. The prosecution of Pastor Johnston for preaching ‘God so loved the world’ near a hospital on a quiet Sunday is a shocking new attempt to restrict freedom of religion and freedom of speech in one part of the world.
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Johnston said he was grateful the judge decided to take time to think about his case before issuing a ruling because “there’s a lot at stake.”
“It is a difficult thing to go through, but we are supported by the prayers of the people of God, and we are approaching Christ for help and strength,” he said. “Christ is the most precious thing in the world to us, and that is why we are eager to talk about him on the highways and paths of this land that we love.”
Original article source: US surveillance ‘in connection’ with UK prosecution of retired priest who preached John 3:16 near hospital
