Trinity Bible Chapel, Which Broke COVID Rules, Fined for Contempt of Court, Locked Down
On 7/30/21 at 7:57 PM EDT
A Canadian church is being sanctioned for a second time after defying COVID-19 restrictions. On Tuesday, Trinity Bible Chapel, located in Ontario, Canada was issued an $85,000 CAD fine ($68,000 USD) for being held in contempt of court.
The charge stems from an April church service that exceeded the number of people allowed to gather indoors under pandemic guidelines set at that time. The church allegedly blocked surveillance that would conceal the number of church-goers entering the sanctuary, according to Judge John Krawchenko of the Superior Court of Justice.
KITCHENER Trinity Bible Chapel must provide proof of a COVID-19 safety plan to the Ontario government before its doors will be unlocked, a Kitchener judge has ruled. On Tuesday, the same Kitchener judge, Justice John Krawchenko, ruled indoor services may resume at Trinity Bible Chapel under Step 3 of the province s reopening plan and under certain circumstances. To be clear, the respondents shall provide a copy of their safety plan, which is required by law to the applicant, prepared in accordance with this regulation, and provide proof of its posting at the church, at which point the applicant shall cause the locks to be changed to allow the reopening of the church, Krawchenko said at a Zoom hearing.