Charges were dropped against multiple Canadian pastors earlier this month after they continued to hold church services in defiance of public health orders banning gatherings.
Last Monday, Crown prosecutors also withdrew two charges against Rock, who was the first pastor charged with violating Ontario's lockdown order by holding services that exceeded a 10-person limit,Prosecutors withdrew two charges last week against Pastor Aaron Rock of Harvest Bible Church in Windsor, Ontario.
"I was a little bit surprised, pleasantly surprised," Rock told the outlet of the dropped charges, each of which carried up to a year in prison and six figures in fines."I’ve never been a guy in trouble with the law – it was kind of surreal." Rock said he is not anti-vaccine or against public health restrictions, but believed COVID-19 was"wildly exaggerated" and the government's response"foolish and very destructive."
"I was a little bit surprised, pleasantly surprised. I’ve never been a guy in trouble with the law – it was kind of surreal."The legal victories for the pastors come after similar charges have been dropped against other Canadian clergy members.in November after he was arrested twice in 2021 because his Calgary church continued to congregate in defiance of the government. His second arrest came after a police helicopter reportedly found his church gathering outside.
Pastor Tim Stephens of Fairview Baptist Church in Calgary, Alberta, was acquitted of public health-related charges last November after being arrested twice in 2021.
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