Canadian Pastor James Coates with his family in this undated photo. A pastor in Canada who was arrested for refusing to adhere to COVID-19 worship restrictions will be released from jail after prosecutors dropped all but one of the charges against him. Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church in Edmonton, Alberta turned himself in to authorities last month after being charged with violating the Public Health Act by holding worship services that reportedly violated public health guidelines. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a Calgary-based law firm representing Coates, announced Wednesday that the pastor could be released as early as next Monday, pending his trial in May. JCCF President John Carpay argued in a statement that the restrictions that Coates disobeyed were “unscientific and unconstitutional.” He is optimistic about the trial set to start on May 3. “We look forward appearing in court in May and demanding the government provide evidence that public health restrictions that violate the freedoms of religion, peaceful assembly, expression and association are scientific and are justifiable in a free and democratic country,” stated Carpay. A spokesperson for the JCCF told The Christian Post on Thursday afternoon that Coates’ release was still pending because the […]
