Pastor fined for preaching in a ‘buffer zone’, Scottish gran cleared over ‘buffer zone’ arrest and other news affecting Christians in Britain.
Pastor fined for preaching in a ‘buffer zone’
A former president of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland has been found guilty of breaching abortion buffer zone laws for preaching from the Bible near Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital. Retired pastor Clive Johnston never mentioned abortion in his message on John 3:16, nor did he display any placards about it. He told Christian Concern: “At 78 I find myself, for the first time, convicted of a crime… the buffer zones law is so broad that holding a Sunday service has been found to be a criminal offence.” (Photo, Pastor Clive Johnston, credit The Christian Institute)
Clive was convicted on two criminal counts and fined £450 for his July 2024 sermon. The Christian Institute, which provided his legal support, is considering an appeal. US evangelist Franklin Graham called the conviction “a dark day for Christian freedom” and said: “God bless Pastor Clive Johnston for preaching the Gospel… I hope his legal team at The Christian Institute will have success in appealing this… There is an anti-Christ spirit that is prevailing in our world today.”
Christian Institute Director Ciarán Kelly called the ruling “creeping censorship” and said: “Despite assurances to the contrary when this legislation was being considered, we now see that an already controversial and deeply unjust law has been selectively applied to criminalise Gospel preaching.”
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