(CHAT News photo)

By Alex McCuaig

Feeling oppressed by government

City church taking province, Hinshaw to court over public health restrictions

Dec 9, 2020 | 9:29 AM

CALGARY, AB – A city church is taking the province and Dr. Deena Hinshaw to court over public health restrictions it says are unconstitutional.

Medicine Hat’s Heights Baptist Church – along with Calgary’s Northside Baptist and three individuals – filed a legal application last week seeking an injunction against public health orders that limit public and private social gatherings as well as masking requirements.

Heights Baptist lawyer James Kitchen says the health orders infringe on the ability of the church’s pastor, Patrick Schoenberger, to provide relief to his congregation.

“His people are hurting,” said Kitchen. “Emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, mentally. They’re hurting because they are isolated and feel oppressed by the government and are unable to manifest their religious beliefs.”

When the application was filed places of worship in most of the province, including Medicine Hat, were restricted to one-third of fire code occupancy and individuals will be required to wear a mask.

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Under the tougher measures announced yesterday those limits were dropped to 15 per cent of capacity limits.

Kitchen says the government’s orders go too far and, once in place, may be hard to reverse.

“The government preventing you from visiting your friends and family at Christmas is not something you find in the Western world,” said Kitchen. “That’s something you find in the Third World. That’s something you find in the Communist world. That’s something you find in Venezuela or Iran.”

Kitchen says he hopes to have the application for an injunction heard in front of a Queen’s Bench justice prior to the Christmas break.