Describing the leaders as the face of resistance to the Re-Opening Ontario Act, Aylmer’s Church of God was found in contempt of court for holding an outdoor church service with more than 300 people in attendance just two days after a May 14 order issued in St. Thomas court.
In court this morning (Monday), Justice Bruce Thomas noted the repetitive nature of the church’s activities and the fact “we’ve been down this road before,” as justification for fining the Church of God $35,000, Pastor Henry Hildebrandt $20,000 and assistant Pastor Peter Wall $6,000. All fines to be paid forthwith.
These fines are in addition to penalties assessed May 14. At that time, the church was fined $35,000, Hildebrandt fined $10,000 and Wall $3,000. The organization was ordered to pay $69,000 in legal costs. The locks on the church were changed at that time. They have 90 days to pay those fines.
Justice Thomas denied the Crown’s request to limit the church’s access to court until all fines are paid.
There is a law and there is a court order, stressed Thomas, who described the church leaders as the face of resistance to the Re-Opening Ontario Act.
Crown counsel Lisa Brost stressed previous sanctions have proven insufficient as the church continues to defy the court orders.
Lisa Bildy, lawyer for the Church of God, argued the provincial COVID-19 restrictions remove civil liberties with no end in sight. It’s a case of public health wielding a large stick, she continued, and there is no science behind the restrictions.
She called the fines “oppressive” as the church has no money and may need to fundraise.
Justice Thomas noted Bildy’s contention lots of people have been defying the orders and the church is being picked on “is more fitting for the school yard than it is for the courtroom.”
