Pastor convicted for preaching Gospel in Northern Ireland buffer zone

Retired Northern Ireland (NI) Baptist pastor Clive Johnston has been convicted and fined for preaching the Gospel within one of NI’s contentious abortion facility buffer zones.

Key Takeaways:

• Pastor Clive Johnston, 78, was convicted and fined for preaching the gospel within an abortion clinic buffer zone in Northern Ireland in 2024.

• The judge convicted Johnston because, though Johnston wasn't addressing abortion, "He was within any safe access so he was doing an act, in this case preaching the gospel, intending that any person hearing it would be influenced whether directly or indirectly.”

• Johnston is seeking to learn if he has options for appealing the decision.

• Critics note that this convictionraises further concerns about freedom of speech throughout the UK.

The Details:

On July 7, 2024, Johnston, who lives in Sion Mills, County Tyrone, conducted an outdoor service within a designated safe access zone near Causeway Hospital.

Johnston, 78, is the former president of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland and is legally represented by the Christian Institute. On May 7, he was found guilty and sentenced on two counts under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act.

Consequently, the grandfather of seven, with no prior history of run-ins with the police, faces a criminal record along with fines totalling £450. An appeal is anticipated, according to the Christian Institute.

The BBC claimed:

Johnston was convicted [by Coleraine Magistrates’ Court] of doing an act in a safe access zone with the intent of or being reckless as to whether it had the effect of influencing a protected person attending the premises. He has been fined £450.He was also found guilty of failing to comply with a direction to leave a safe access zone.

The court was told that at least one protected person was attending the hospital on the day.Judge Peter King said Johnston had "tested the law to the point where he broke the law."

During his 45-minute judgement, King claimed in statements to Coleraine Magistrates Court: 

“He was within any safe access so he was doing an act, in this case preaching the gospel, intending that any person hearing it would be influenced whether directly or indirectly.”

Besides, King elaborated that he was satisfied that Johnston  had acted recklessly “as to whether a protected person” heading to the clinic could be influenced, whether directly or indirectly. The judge declined to refer Johnston’s case to the Court of Appeal.

Johnston denounced the judge's ruling as a “dark day for Christian freedom.” 

Pastor Clive Johnston convicted: 'A dark day for Christian freedom'

Commentary:

The Christian Institute quoted Johnson as saying:

“We held a small, open air Sunday service near a hospital. We made no reference whatsoever to the issue of abortion. And yet the buffer zones law is so broad that holding a Sunday service has been found to be a criminal offence. And at 78 years of age I find myself, for the first time, convicted of a crime.

If someone is out there causing trouble, stirring up violence, harassing or verbally attacking people, then, absolutely, go ahead and prosecute them. But I wasn’t doing any of those things as the police video shows and as everyone involved in this case accepts.

So we are going to go away now and discuss what to do next with our legal team. I am obviously keen to find out what options there might be for me to appeal."

Director Ciarán Kelly of the Christian Institute remarked:  

“Despite assurances to the contrary when this legislation was being considered, we now see that an already controversial and deeply unjust law has now been selectively applied to criminalise gospel preaching.

This is creeping censorship. If the ruling stands it will represent a shocking new restriction on freedom of religion and freedom of speech so we will be helping Clive to consider the options for appeal.”

Similarly, Democratic Unionist Party  (DUP) MP Gregory Campbell lamented that the outcome of Johnston’s case “raises serious questions about freedom of speech and freedom of religion across the United Kingdom”.

Campbell continued:

“The decision to convict and fine a retired pastor for peacefully preaching a Christian message will concern many people right across the United Kingdom. Pastor Clive Johnston was not inciting violence or hatred. He was publicly expressing his Christian faith and speaking about the love of God, yet he has now been criminalised for doing so."

Campbell added that stifling free speech "should trouble everyone" as "the law must be applied with common sense, balance and proportionality." He went on to say that "My colleagues and I warned what would happen if this legislation passed. A person who now speaks publicly within a zone such as this one even when not touching on abortion, as was the case here, is now subject to potential prosecution. We stand firmly with Pastor Clive Johnston and with all those who believe these liberties are worth protecting.”