Court hearing for pastor’s alleged abortion zone breach postponed

A retired pastor was as a consequence of appear in court on Tuesday for allegedly breaching controversial abortion buffer-zone laws, however the hearing has been postponed.

Pastor Clive Johnston, 77, was cautioned by police after holding an open-air service inside 100 metres of the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. Video footage of the incident shows Johnston preaching from John 3:16 and singing praises to God next to a big cross.

When confronted by police, Johnston said that the event was nothing to do with the difficulty of abortion. He told police, “We’re not mentioning an abortion … this just isn’t a rally. This is just proclaiming a message that can change people’s lives.”

Despite this, Johnston stands accused of intentionally influencing a protected person, or being reckless as as to whether his actions had that effect.

In December District Judge Peter King asked for written submissions to assist determine whether Johnston’s actions could have crossed into criminality under the present law. If convicted, Johnston could face a advantageous in addition to a criminal record.

Johnston, who’s being supported by The Christian Institute, said, “I’m grateful for the sort messages of support I even have received from members of the general public each here and abroad, and for the prayers being offered as much as God about this case by many Christians.

“My legal representatives have strongly contested the allegations against me and I pray the broader public will understand the implications of this case.”

Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute, commented, “Should a law designed to stop abortion protests be used to criminalise gospel preaching? John 3:16 is an excellent, famous verse and everybody knows it says nothing about abortion.

“We have amazing freedom on this country to share the Christian message. That’s why we’ve taken on this case. Prosecuting Pastor Johnston for preaching ‘God so loved the world’ near a hospital on a quiet Sunday is a shocking latest try and restrict freedom of faith and freedom of speech in an element of the world where open air gospel services are an element of the culture.

“Christians are pro-life. But preaching the excellent news about Christ just isn’t the identical thing as protesting against abortion. The Police and the Public Prosecution Service are overstepping the mark.”