Ireland is finally safe. Clive Johnston has been convicted and can no longer menace the public.
Johnson, 78, is a retired pastor who committed the heinous offense of preaching near the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. That was considered within the “safe access zone” under Northern Ireland’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act.
The Act prohibits “influencing,” “preventing or impeding access,” or “causing harassment, alarm or distress” to a protected person within 100 meters (about 328 feet) of facilities where abortions are performed.
So Johnson was found guilty of “influencing” inside the protected zone and fined 450 pounds (about $614).
Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service told Fox News Digital, “The defendant was found guilty and convicted by the 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; and failing to comply with a direction to leave a safe access zone.”
The language of the law is absurdly vague and abusively broad. What constitutes an “influence” is undefined and could include any religious, political, or social exchange. Would it include encouragements to have abortions?
It is equally perverse to treat praying or preaching the same as blocking or impeding access to a clinic. Finally, a hospital engages in a wide array of activities that raise religious or political issues that can be the subject of free speech.
We previously saw several cases in the United Kingdom where people were arrested for silently praying near abortion clinics.
For its part, Ireland has been a leader in censorship and the criminalization of speech. As the leader of the Irish Green Party proclaimed, “We are restricting freedom for the public good.”
By the way, his offense was reading John 3:16, including “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
What could perish in Ireland and the United Kingdom is free expression as speech regulators target bad influences under time, place, and manner laws.
Turley left out an important fact. The retired preacher is a known anti-abortion activist who was using a bullhorn intent in harassing patients. Cops asked him several times to stop using the bullhorn and move outside the zone. He refused. That’s conduct, not speech. He was arrested for his conduct. Not his speech.
The irony of Turley’s omission of facts speaks volumes about his hypocrisy. He’s big on punishing conduct. Not speech. This preacher was arrested because of his conduct.
Satanism is normalized. Steven Hawking Physicist said mankind would not last a hundred years.
Steve is dead.
He was on a patch of grass across the street from the hospital, delivering a sermon that had nothing at all to do with abortion, pro-life, or pro-choice. It only pertained to “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son . . .” He was not impeding anyone’s entrance or exit from the hospital. Do abortion-minded women and the UK government now really consider that harrassment? Wow.
This brings to mind another saying in the New Testament, also quoting Jesus: “Blessed are you when men revile you, persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice in that day and be exceedingly glad, because your reward in heavin is great, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets.” I have little doubt Mr. Johnston is quite familiar with that verse, and so even though his legal team is going to appeal, he must realize that he is blessed.
P.S. I know someone pointed this out below, but the article’s references to Ireland are in error. This took place in Northern Ireland, a different country from Ireland.
How sad, one of the most loving and truth verses in all sixty-six books of GOD’s word. It will be a very sad day at The Great White Throne Judgement for many! Pastor Clive Johnston’s reward will be great in Heaven!
what a great day that will be. soaked in that blood that came pouring out of his wrists, feet, back, face and skull. no forgiveness without it.
his visage was marred more than any man’s. they who gazed upon him were sickened. tell us big boy, who just punched you in the face? who plucked out your beard, SON OF GOD? HOT SHOT! come on down, fool on the hill. kinda stuck up there, ain’t cha?
and the sky turned black as a storm kicked in and them boys got sceered. hey, fellas, he twere the son of god, after-all
Northern Ireland birth rate is 1.71 and is probably on a downward trend. Just to maintain a steady population it should be 2.1. Won’t be long before abortions will be considered in a completely different light especially when you factor in migrants who have no intention on assimilation
Congress isn’t going to remove judges. They don’t want the most powerful mafia bosses turning loose on their corrupt money making schemes, isn’t that right Nancy?