Last week, we told you about how in the Edmonton area police raided and then fenced off a church in order to keep parishioners out after the pastor refused to cave to lockdown edicts.
GraceLife Church near Edmonton was raided, blocked off and fenced by police to prevent worshippers from reaching the building.
On Sunday, hundreds gathered outside the fenced area at the church to protest the shut down and they ultimately tore the fence down.
A large contingent of riot police were brought in to fight back against the protestors. The police put the fence back up.
Lawyers representing Grace Life church and pastor James Coates said they appreciated “the public outpouring of support” but stated that none of the church congregants were actually involved in the protest.
“Grace Life Church has no control of our Church or grounds at this time. The Church grounds are fully under the responsibility and control of the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and Alberta Health Services. The closing of the Grace Life facility has understandably resulted in significant public outrage and caused even larger crowds to gather in one place. Albertans have a constitutional right to assemble, associate, and worship.”
The government has vowed to keep the church closed until it compiles with their lockdown edicts.
Currently, churches are allowed to be open at 15 per cent capacity, but officials say hundreds of people have attended GraceLife’s Sunday services for the past few months.