Canada: Pastor Jailed for Holding Church Services amid Pandemic Restrictions

Tré Goins-Phillips : Feb 18, 2021
Faithwire.com

"The congregants of GraceLife refuse to accept the Alberta government's dystopian 'new normal.' Their first loyalty is to obey their God, not government. They are committed to gathering, as they always have, for in-person worship services. They will challenge this excessive and unlawful government oppression rather than turn their back on their beliefs." -attorney, James Kitchen, The Justice Centre

[Faithwire.com] James Coates, lead pastor of GraceLife Church in Alberta, Canada, has been jailed for holding in-person worship services amid ongoing pandemic restrictions. (Screengrab via the Justice Centre)

Coates' attorney, James Kitchen, said the preacher is willing to remain behind bars in order to do the "right thing," according to CTV News.

In mid-December, Alberta Health Services inspector Janine Hanrahan issued an order against GraceLife, directly mandating the church to ensure all congregants, staff members, and leaders are wearing masks while on the property, to enforce social distancing of at least six feet between all persons, and to restrict occupancy of the facility to 15% or less of the building's total operational capacity... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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