U.S. officials are concerned with the prosecution of a Northern Ireland pastor who allegedly violated British buffer zone laws while sharing the gospel.
Clive Johnson, 77, is accused of preaching a sermon on John 3:16 near the Causeway Hospital in Londonderry back in July 2024, according to areportfrom The Telegraph.
The pastor and grandfather of seven has been charged under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, which forbids prayer and other advocacy activities near facilities that perform abortions.
Johnson could face £2,500 in fines, equivalent to roughly $3,400, and the prospect of a criminal record.
The Telegraph reported that Trump administration officials have been keeping a close watch on the prosecution of “thought criminals” in the United Kingdom.
A US spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: “The United States is still monitoring many buffer zone cases in the UK, as well as other acts of censorship throughout Europe.”https://t.co/Z0f1aDqp9Z
— The Christian Institute (@christianorguk)April 17, 2026
They have especially watched the enforcement of buffer zone laws.
“The United States is still monitoring many buffer zone cases in the UK, as well as other acts of censorship throughout Europe,” a spokesman from the U.S. State Department told The Telegraph.
“The UK’s persecution of silent prayer represents not only an egregious violation of the fundamental right to free speech and religious liberty, but also a concerning departure from the shared values that ought to underpin US-UK relations,” he added.
Source: VidNews » Feed
