Embattled Pastor James Coates is set to be released after being jailed, in solitary confinement, for more than a month because he refused to stop preaching..But he’s leaving prison with the harsh words of Judge Jeffrey Champion ringing in his ears..Coates’ lawyers expected him to be released in the afternoon following the paperwork at the Edmonton Remand Centre..Coates and his lawyers all appeared virtually in a Stony Plain courtroom Monday morning..Both the Crown and defence made a joint submission asking for $100 fine with Coates pleading guilty to breach of an undertaking..Coates, wearing a mask and orange prison overalls told Champion: “I’m not a political revolutionary.”.But the judge told court he wasn’t sure the $100 fine was enough of a deterrence..“He wants to make a statement that he cannot be bound by the undertaking. But I want to make a statement about people who refuse to obey public health orders during a pandemic,” said Champion..The judge retired to consider his verdict..He came back with a $1,500 fine and a tongue-lashing for Coates..Champion lambasted Coates for putting his congregation and the greater public at risk, adding: “He’s serving a period of time because he wants to make a statement.”.As part of the deal, one of the Public Health Order violations was dismissed, but one remains..Coates was arrested Feb. 17 for repeatedly preaching to his packed GraceLife Church, just outside Edmonton, in contravention of Alberta COVID-19 laws..His trial is set for May 3..In an earlier bail hearing, Justice Peter B. Michalyshyn, in the Edmonton Court of Queen’s Bench, denied it, stating the pastor’s continued detention was “justified” and “necessary.”.“Pastor Coates is bound by the rule of law. His refusal to the condition of release and multiple noncompliances with the stated intent to continue concerns public safety,” Michalyshyn said..Coates’s refusal prefaced on his “strong interpretation of holy scripture” rather than an unwillingness to ensure the health of his congregation, he noted..Coates was represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms..In the hearing, Coates’s counsel James Kitchen argued the condition of release to stop preaching was a direct violation of Coates’s conscience and without legal precedent.. Erin Coates, the pastor’s wife, said in an affidavit her husband could not abide by the conditions “in good conscience.”.“These beliefs include the necessity of the whole congregation gathering physically, in person for Sunday morning services,” Erin wrote in the affidavit..She said failure to hold Sunday services would be “an act of disobedience to Christ.”.Erin said her husband has lost weight in jail and is having problems with his neck. He is only let out of his cell twice a day for 15 minutes at a time..In a letter to Premier Jason Kenney, the JCCF pleaded with him to free Coates and also asked him to “assume responsibility for protecting the Charter rights and freedoms of Albertans, and cease allowing the Chief Medical Officer to violate them by health orders that are not reviewed by, or approved by, the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly.”.Kenney has declined to get involved..NDP leader Rachel Notley has taken to Twitter to voice her displeasure towards GraceLife Church..“We cannot have open defiance of public health orders while the vast majority of Albertans do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Notley..She urged the premier and the Alberta government to “step in and stop” those who continue to evade efforts to flatten the curve. .Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
Embattled Pastor James Coates is set to be released after being jailed, in solitary confinement, for more than a month because he refused to stop preaching..But he’s leaving prison with the harsh words of Judge Jeffrey Champion ringing in his ears..Coates’ lawyers expected him to be released in the afternoon following the paperwork at the Edmonton Remand Centre..Coates and his lawyers all appeared virtually in a Stony Plain courtroom Monday morning..Both the Crown and defence made a joint submission asking for $100 fine with Coates pleading guilty to breach of an undertaking..Coates, wearing a mask and orange prison overalls told Champion: “I’m not a political revolutionary.”.But the judge told court he wasn’t sure the $100 fine was enough of a deterrence..“He wants to make a statement that he cannot be bound by the undertaking. But I want to make a statement about people who refuse to obey public health orders during a pandemic,” said Champion..The judge retired to consider his verdict..He came back with a $1,500 fine and a tongue-lashing for Coates..Champion lambasted Coates for putting his congregation and the greater public at risk, adding: “He’s serving a period of time because he wants to make a statement.”.As part of the deal, one of the Public Health Order violations was dismissed, but one remains..Coates was arrested Feb. 17 for repeatedly preaching to his packed GraceLife Church, just outside Edmonton, in contravention of Alberta COVID-19 laws..His trial is set for May 3..In an earlier bail hearing, Justice Peter B. Michalyshyn, in the Edmonton Court of Queen’s Bench, denied it, stating the pastor’s continued detention was “justified” and “necessary.”.“Pastor Coates is bound by the rule of law. His refusal to the condition of release and multiple noncompliances with the stated intent to continue concerns public safety,” Michalyshyn said..Coates’s refusal prefaced on his “strong interpretation of holy scripture” rather than an unwillingness to ensure the health of his congregation, he noted..Coates was represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms..In the hearing, Coates’s counsel James Kitchen argued the condition of release to stop preaching was a direct violation of Coates’s conscience and without legal precedent.. Erin Coates, the pastor’s wife, said in an affidavit her husband could not abide by the conditions “in good conscience.”.“These beliefs include the necessity of the whole congregation gathering physically, in person for Sunday morning services,” Erin wrote in the affidavit..She said failure to hold Sunday services would be “an act of disobedience to Christ.”.Erin said her husband has lost weight in jail and is having problems with his neck. He is only let out of his cell twice a day for 15 minutes at a time..In a letter to Premier Jason Kenney, the JCCF pleaded with him to free Coates and also asked him to “assume responsibility for protecting the Charter rights and freedoms of Albertans, and cease allowing the Chief Medical Officer to violate them by health orders that are not reviewed by, or approved by, the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly.”.Kenney has declined to get involved..NDP leader Rachel Notley has taken to Twitter to voice her displeasure towards GraceLife Church..“We cannot have open defiance of public health orders while the vast majority of Albertans do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Notley..She urged the premier and the Alberta government to “step in and stop” those who continue to evade efforts to flatten the curve. .Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
