Street preacher case is a ‘shocking’ attack on freedom of faith and speech

As Pastor Clive Johnston’s trial resumes, The Christian Institute has warned that the prosecution of a person for preaching the gospel represents a “shocking” attack on freedom of speech and religion.

Johnston was cautioned and later prosecuted for delivering an open air sermon on a Sunday in 2024.

The sermon took place by the road side and was technically inside an abortion clinic buffer zone. However, the sermon made no mention of abortion and was centred on John 3:16, which states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shouldn’t perish, but have everlasting life.”

Johnston is accused of intentionally influencing a protected person, or being reckless as as to if his actions had that effect and will face a positive and a criminal record, if convicted. He is being supported in his case by The Christian Institute.

Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute, said, “Should a law designed to stop abortion protests be used to criminalise gospel preaching? John 3:16 is a superb, 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 to restrict freedom of faith and freedom of speech in a component of the world where open air gospel services are a component of the culture.” 

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

The US has expressed an interest within the case, with the state department saying it’s “monitoring” the situation together with other similar cases, akin to those prosecuted for silently praying inside abortion buffer zones.

In an announcement the state department said, “The United States continues to be monitoring many “buffer zone” cases within the UK, in addition to other acts of censorship across Europe. The UK’s persecution of silent prayer represents not only an egregious violation of the elemental right to free speech and non secular liberty, but in addition a concerning departure from the shared values that must underpin US-UK relations.” 

Commenting on Pastor Johnston’s case, former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said, “It is extraordinary that in a Christian country the police think it’s an offence to evangelise the word of God outside a hospital.”