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EDMONTON - A lawyer for an Alberta pastor accused of violating COVID-19 rules says the province's health agency decided to penalize the church leader as a way to censor him. ....
Posted: May 04, 2021 8:01 PM MT | Last Updated: May 5 A church service that took place at GraceLife Church on Dec. 13, 2020 is shown in this handout image taken by a health inspector with Alberta Health Services and provided by the Provincial Court of Alberta. (Provincial Court of Alberta handout via The Canadian Press) A lawyer for an Alberta pastor accused of violating COVID-19 rules says the province s health agency decided to penalize the church leader as a way to censor him. James Kitchen told the trial of James Coates that his client was charged the same day he preached a sermon criticizing Alberta s leadership on the pandemic. ....
'A chilling effect:' Lawyer argues Alberta government wanted to censor church pastor - Medicine Hat NewsMedicine Hat News medicinehatnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from medicinehatnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
EDMONTON After two days of arguments, the trial for an Alberta pastor accused of leading church services in violation of public-health orders will resume next month. Judge Robert Shaigec adjourned proceeding until June 7 in Stony Plain provincial court while he considers a number of legal arguments. Lawyers for GraceLife Pastor James Coates, 41, continued their arguments this morning in Edmonton provincial court. They argued the province s public health rules restricting attendance at venues, including churches, violated charter rights around freedom of gathering, expression and religion. We don t need a psychologist to tell us that in-person communication is more effective and that humans need it, want it, and derive more benefit from it, James Kitchen told the court. ....
A supporter stands outside court in Edmonton on Thursday, March 4, 2021, as Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church appears in court to appeal bail conditions. He was arrested for allegedly holding Sunday services in violation of COVID-19 rules. A trial is to begin Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson EDMONTON – An Alberta pastor accused of leading church services in violation of public-health orders says the COVID-19 pandemic has been blown out of proportion by the government and the media. Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church testified on the first day of his trial Monday and complained multiple times about how difficult it was to speak with a mask on. ....