{"id":2606412,"date":"2026-05-24T08:16:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T12:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/persecution-uk-pastor-convicted-punished-for-reading-john-316-preaching-in-public-space\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T08:17:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T12:17:00","slug":"persecution-uk-pastor-convicted-punished-for-reading-john-316-preaching-in-public-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/persecution-uk-pastor-convicted-punished-for-reading-john-316-preaching-in-public-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Persecution: UK Pastor Convicted, Punished for Reading John 3:16, Preaching in Public Space"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpersecution-uk-pastor-convicted-punished-for-reading-john-316-preaching-in-public-space%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2606412&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michigan-gop-gubernatorial-candidate-must-surrender-his-guns-federal-judge-orders\/\" title=\"Michigan GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Must Surrender His Guns, Federal Judge Orders\">retired pastor<\/a> in Northern Ireland, Clive Johnston, was convicted under the 2023 \u201cAbortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act\u201d for \u201cinfluencing\u201d people within 100 meters of a hospital where abortions occur. Authorities said he was effectively in violation even though he did not mention abortion-he was reading John 3:16. According to the article, the law\u2019s wording can criminalize certain behaviors (such as \u201cinfluencing\u201d or causing distress) near abortion facilities.Johnston received a fine of 450 British pounds and said the decision is a major blow to christian freedom; he is considering an appeal.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The United Kingdom continues course in their quest to obliterate any remnants of freedom of speech for a people that once loved Christ.<\/p>\n<p>Retired Pastor Clive Johnston was convicted of breaching a \u201csafe access zone\u201d outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, on July 7, 2024, under the Abortion Services Act of 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/culture\/retired-pastor-78-convicted-fined-preaching-bible-verse-near-northern-ireland-hospital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a>, this law uses sweeping language to guard women seeking abortions. \u201cNorthern Ireland\u2019s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act prohibits \u2018influencing,\u2019 \u2018preventing or impeding access,\u2019 or \u2018causing harassment, alarm or distress\u2019 to a protected person within 100 meters (about 328 feet) of facilities where abortions are performed,\u201d the outlet reported.<\/p>\n<p>Johnston was said to be \u201cinfluencing\u201d inside one of these zones, but he did not even mention abortion. He was reading John 3:16.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt effectively redefines peaceful Christian witness as a form of unlawful \u2018influence,\u2019\u201d he described to Fox News.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf simply reading the Bible, praying, and preaching on God\u2019s love can now be considered harmful because someone might overhear it within a certain area, then we have crossed a very serious line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJohn 3:16 is one of the most well-known and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >hope-filled verses<\/a> in the Bible \u2014 a message about God\u2019s love and salvation. If even that can be criminalized because of where it is spoken, then how can any public expression of Christian belief be truly safe from restriction?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Police body camera footage was released of Johnston speaking to an officer the day he held the service.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83d\udea8NEW: Judge to rule on Clive Johnston\u2019s case TOMORROW. \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/p>\n<p>The 78-year-old pastor was tried for sharing the gospel near a hospital where a \u201cbuffer zone\u201d is in place.<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t mention abortion, yet is accused of \u201cinfluencing\u201d decisions on the matter <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JyXrrA0DBf\">pic.twitter.com\/JyXrrA0DBf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lois McLatchie Miller (@LoisMcLatch) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LoisMcLatch\/status\/2052093028223828211?\">May 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>He has been fined 450 British pounds, which equates to $614, but is considering appealing the conviction.<\/p>\n<p>Johnston spoke at a press conference where he called the decision \u201ca very dark day for Christian freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere shouldn\u2019t be any public spaces in Northern Ireland where you can be prosecuted and convicted simply for preaching the gospel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y-sk-FWYwS4?si=7A_L1EwHq-iVHpcE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Where are all the Muslims being convicted of preaching their doctrine of hate and violence?<\/p>\n<p>The United Kingdom\u2019s police, laws, and court system have devolved into something beyond parody in a once honored domain for liberty. As former President Ronald Reagan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reaganfoundation.org\/ronald-reagan\/quotes\/freedom-is-never-more-than-one-generation-away-from\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a>, \u201cFreedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Johnston \u2014 and every Christian in Europe \u2014 need prayers.<\/p>\n<p>Those who deliver Christ\u2019s message have endured awful, depraved lies in his name, many of them martyred for refusing to stop declaring that he is the Lord of us all.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John%2015:18-25&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 15:18<\/a> reads, \u201cIf the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We should be saddened by this news but not surprised.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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