Retired pastor, 78, convicted and fined for preaching Bible verse near Northern Ireland hospital
New York Post • • world
Key Points:
- Clive Johnston, a 78-year-old retired pastor, was convicted and fined £450 for preaching a gospel sermon within a 100-meter "safe access zone" outside Causeway Hospital in Northern Ireland, under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act.
- The law prohibits actions that "influence," impede access, or cause distress to protected persons near abortion facilities; Johnston was found guilty of "influencing" despite his sermon not mentioning abortion.
- Johnston and supporters warn the conviction sets a concerning precedent for religious freedom and free speech in the UK, arguing that peaceful Christian witness is being criminalized under broad legal restrictions.
- The Christian Institute and others highlight similar cases in the UK where Christians have faced prosecution or fines for prayer or holding signs in buffer zones, raising fears of government overreach and censorship.
- The US State Department is monitoring the case, expressing concern over restrictions on free speech and religious liberty in the UK, while Johnston is considering appealing the conviction.