Pastor Convicted of Preaching Near Abortion Clinic: “Dark Day For Christian Freedom”

A retired Baptist pastor was convicted Thursday of preaching near an abortion center, in an egregious case of violation of free speech rights. The pastor was convicted of breaching a so-called buffer zone outside an abortion clinic after he led a small open-air Sunday service preaching the Gospel near a Northern Ireland hospital that kills babies in abortions. Clive Johnston, 77, was found guilty in Coleraine Magistrates’ Court of violating Northern Ireland’s Safe Access Zones law and of failing to leave the area when directed by police. District Judge Peter King imposed a £450 fine. The conviction stems from a...