Canadian Pastor Jailed for 21 Days for Breaking COVID-19 Rules Has Been Acquitted
Canadian Pastor Tim Stephens of Fairview Baptist Church in Calgary, AB, has been acquitted on charges of breach of Public Health Orders for his actions during the COVID pandemic, a judge has ruled.
Stephens was one of only a handful of churches that fought to stay open throughout the pandemic and was ruthless targeted by Alberta Health Services. Stephens, along with Pastor James Coates, was imprisoned for weeks.
Judge Allan Fradsham ruled that prosecutors failed to prove Stephens didn’t maintain social distancing during two church services in early 2021, meaning that all personal Public Health Act charges against him have now either been withdrawn or resulted in acquittals.
In an interview with Post Media, Stephens was overjoyed.
“All my personal matters have been dealt with so I feel vindicated. It certainly speaks volumes of the overreach of government actions during COVID…I praise God because those heavy-handed measures only enhanced the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that, I rejoice.”
The JCCF explains:
On May 6, 2021, Associate Chief Justice John Rooke of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench issued what might be the broadest restraining order in common law history. Justice Rooke’s injunction allowed police to arrest and detain immediately and take before the court any Albertan who exercised her or his Charter freedoms in the face of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s unscientific and unconstitutional lockdown orders and restrictions.
On May 13, 2021, at the request of the Justice Centre, the injunction was amended by the Court of Queen’s Bench to apply only to persons associated with the Whistle Stop Café. Nonetheless, on May 16, 2021, Pastor Tim Stephens of Fairview Baptist Church was unlawfully arrested for allegedly violating the terms of the injunction, even though he had no association with the Café and had not been served notice of the injunction. Pastor Stephens was released after spending three days in the Calgary Remand Centre.
Pastor Stephens was again arrested on June 14, 2021, for having allegedly conducted an outdoor church service violating a court order. As a result, he spent an additional 18 days in jail before being released on July 1, 2021. At the time of his release, the Public Health Orders in question had been revoked.
In addition to spending a total of 21 days in jail, Pastor Stephen had also been served with six provincial tickets for his alleged breach of Alberta Public Health Orders. Four of those tickets have since been dropped; today’s decision is in relation to the two remaining tickets.
In an interview with Post Media, Stephens was overjoyed.
“All my personal matters have been dealt with so I feel vindicated. It certainly speaks volumes of the overreach of government actions during COVID…I praise God because those heavy-handed measures only enhanced the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that, I rejoice.”
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