I have written previously about Rob Hoogland, imprisoned in Canada for breaking a court order not to speak publicly about his teenage daughter’s efforts to transition to male. Before his
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 Hildebrand
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There are about 3,100 churches in Alberta and pretty much the only ones we hear about are the two that have repeatedly defied public health orders.
First, there was Edmonton-area GraceLife Church. Its pastor, James Coates, was eventually arrested and jailed for refusing to adhere to COVID-19 health measures. The measures required that no more than 15 per cent of the building’s capacity be filled with people and everyone is to be masked. Eventually, authorities were forced to put up an unscalable fence around the Spruce Grove building to prevent the defiance from taking place. Neighbours of the church say they were being verbally accosted by the parishioners.