Pastor on trial in Northern Ireland for preaching Scripture near hospital
A 76-year-old retired pastor is heading to court for doing what pastors have done for centuries — reading the Bible in public.
Clive Johnston is facing criminal charges under Northern Ireland’s Abortion Services Safe Access Zones Act after he preached a gospel message near the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine last July, as Fox News reports.
Prosecutors claim his brief sermon within the area designated as a “safe access zone” amounted to a form of protest and attempted influence, even though abortion was never mentioned, and no signage was displayed.
Legal Storm Surrounds Public Sermon
Johnston was charged with two counts: attempting to influence a protected person and failing to leave the buffer zone after being directed to do so by police. He pleaded not guilty during a preliminary hearing in March and is expected to stand trial this Wednesday.
Government prosecutors say their decision to pursue the case followed a review of police reports and complied with official prosecutorial guidelines. However, neither the Police Service of Northern Ireland nor the Public Prosecution Service has offered further comment ahead of the proceedings.
Johnston’s words came from the New Testament — John 3:16, to be precise — and were delivered on a quiet Sunday, beside a hedge separated from the hospital by a divided highway. According to The Christian Institute, which is supporting his legal defense, around a dozen people were present, none bearing signs or discussing abortion.
Law Collides With Religious Liberty
The Safe Access Zones Act, enacted in 2023, criminalizes “anti-abortion protests and other behaviors” within 100 to 250 meters of abortion providers. Its vague wording now seems to include Scripture reading, depending on who’s enforcing it.
Johnston’s legal team argues the law runs afoul of Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects religious expression and freedom of conscience. The outcome of this trial may well set a precedent for where the line is drawn between law and liberty in Northern Ireland.
Simon Calvert of The Christian Institute didn’t mince words, calling the prosecution “a shocking new attempt to restrict freedom of religion and freedom of speech.” His organization contends that Northern Ireland has a long cultural tradition of outdoor gospel preaching — one now under legal scrutiny.
Supporters Cry Foul Over “Overreach”
“Christians are pro-life. But preaching the good news about Christ is not the same thing as protesting against abortion,” said Calvert, who also accused authorities of overreaching. That distinction appears lost on those interpreting the law from within government offices.
Calvert warned, “If the Gospel can be banned in this public place, where else can it be banned?” It’s a question on the minds of many concerned about creeping restrictions on public religious speech.
For his part, Johnston remains calm and focused. “I am grateful for the kind messages of support I have received from members of the public both here and abroad,” he said, adding that he looks forward to defending his actions in court.
Pattern Emerges Across the U.K.
This is not the only case raising eyebrows. Earlier this year in Scotland, 74-year-old Rose Docherty was arrested for holding a sign near a hospital that said, “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.” Her case was dropped, only for authorities to charge her again in September for a similar alleged incident.
Both cases display a troubling pattern: peaceful religious expression being interpreted as civil disobedience merely due to its message or location. For those who value civil liberties, such selective enforcement raises serious red flags.
Faith leaders and liberty advocates alike are watching closely. Whether you agree with Johnston’s beliefs or not, the principle at stake spans across ideologies — can a man be fined for preaching a Bible verse on public ground?
The court’s answer could either reinforce a longstanding heritage of religious liberty or send a chilling message to the faithful: Scripture is fine, just not too close to a hospital.
