Author of the article: John Vaudry
Publishing date: May 12, 2021 • 2 hours ago • 3 minute read •
Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church in Parkland County was released March 22, after being jailed for more than a month after refusing to abide by a bail condition to not hold church services that violated rules over gathering and masking. File photo jpg, SP
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I just don’t understand some of my fellow Christians. I’m particularly grieved by those who, for whatever reason, have taken a stand against the public health measures introduced by government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By now, we’ve probably all heard of Pastor James Coates of the GraceLife Church in Parkland County, Alberta, who went to jail because he defied restrictions on the number of people who could assemble for worship at any given time and also permitted (encouraged?) congregants to attend services without masks. Now, in Aylmer, Ontario, Pastor Henry Hildebrandt and two politicians, MP Derek Sloan and MPP Randy Hillier have been charged with failing to comply with the law. They face hefty fines or a significant jail term.