Ontario pastor charged $100,000 and may face jail time for holding worship service

The Harvest Bible Church in Windsor, Ontario released a press statement on Thursday claiming that the church's lead pastor, Dr. Aaron Rock, has been fined up to $100,000 and could face a year in prison for holding church services.

"Police also informed us that they will bar our congregation from entering the church on Christmas Eve, contrary to Section 176 of the Criminal Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We are deeply grieved by these unlawful and immoral acts, having already been banned from meeting on Good Friday and Easter Sunday," a statement from the church reads.

The church says that the Windsor-Essex County Health United has not responded to any written communication from the church while police close the premises. "Their lack of service and balanced concern for our people is obvious," the statement reads.

In a previous interview with The Post Millennial Dr. Rock said that "banning church is like having a family gathering but not allowing a 95-year-old grandmother to attend, the matriarch of the family."

On the question of churches being essential, Pastor Rock says when we compare the church’s relation to people’s health, it is essential, similar to why pharmacies are essential to the population's wellbeing.

"Compare the church to other things, medical experts are good with physical health, pastors are experts in emotional, social, mental health. Pastors need to administer gospel to those who struggle. The problem with lockdowns is they focus only on biotic health, but the rest of people's lives are falling apart because of them."

Pastor Rock said that legal action against provincial governments that infringe on religious freedoms is coming soon. "Yes there will be lawsuits, they will start in the western provinces, with the goal to overturn their draconian rules. Then they will move to Ontario."