UK Pastor Clive Johnston Faces Trial for Preaching John 3:16 in 'Safe Access Zone'

A 77-year-old retired pastor is facing trial for the second day on Wednesday after preaching a sermon near a hospital in Northern Ireland. The case centers on whether his actions violated the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland), which prohibits influencing or impeding individuals seeking abortion services within 100 meters of eight designated abortion providers.

Clive Johnston, the pastor, delivered his sermon on July 7, 2024, across the street from the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. His sermon included singing with a ukulele, sharing his life story, and preaching John 3:16. Police body camera footage shows Johnston speaking the verse into a microphone when an officer interrupted him, stating, "this is a safe access zone," and ordered him to stop preaching.

The officer also told Johnston's associates that filming in the zone was illegal, despite the legislation not prohibiting filming. Johnston responded by asserting he was not violating the law since he did not mention abortion. He refused to leave, prompting the officer to warn that "police may remove you, and if you resist, you may be removed and liable to prosecution." Johnston provided his personal information, accepted a summons, and thanked the officers for their courtesy.

Johnston now faces two charges under the Safe Access Zones Act for allegedly "influencing" someone seeking an abortion. Notably, court filings did not allege that he mentioned abortion in his sermon, nor were there any abortion-related placards or banners present, The Christian Post reports. The grandfather of seven could face a fine of up to £2,500 ($3,375).

Legal and Advocacy Response

Simon Calvert, deputy director for public affairs at The Christian Institute, which is supporting Johnston, stated:

"Prosecuting someone for preaching John 3:16 near a hospital on a quiet Sunday is an outrageous restriction on freedom of religion and freedom of speech."

Ahead of the trial, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told The Telegraph:

"The United States is still monitoring many buffer zone cases in the UK, as well as other acts of censorship across Europe. The UK's persecution of silent prayer represents not only an egregious violation of the fundamental right to free speech and religious liberty, but also a concerning departure from the shared values that ought to underpin US-UK relations."

Broader Context of Religious Expression Cases

While Johnston is the first person accused of violating the Safe Access Zones Act by preaching a sermon unrelated to abortion, he is not the first to face prosecution for religious expression near hospitals in Britain. Last year, Rose Docherty, a 75-year-old Glaswegian grandmother, was prosecuted under similar legislation in Scotland for carrying a placard outside a hospital that read: "Coercion is a crime, here to talk," followed by a Bible verse.