In recent weeks, at least 45 churches on Indigenous lands across Canada have been targeted by vandals and arsonists.
Canadian Pastor Tim Stephens told his congregation Sunday that he was strengthened by the support and prayers of Christians around the world after he was arrested for holding church services in violation of provincial COVID-19 health restrictions. He was released on July 1.
Six churches on First Nations land across western Canada have been badly damaged due to fire.
Canada's Prime Minister has asked Pope Francis to issue an apology after 715 more graves of Indigenous youth were found on the grounds of former residential assimilation schools run, in part, by the Catholic church.
Tim Stephens, the pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Calgary, was arrested at his home Monday for holding a series of underground services at outdoor locations in violation of provincial COVID-19 health restrictions.
In Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a church that saw its building closed by the provincial government held an illegal outdoor “underground” worship service at an undisclosed location this Sunday.
A judge recently ruled that a Canadian pastor's religious freedom was not violated when he was arrested for holding in-person church services despite COVID-19 restrictions.
This week, a Canadian church and its leaders were fined $66,000 for holding three outdoor worship services in violation of local health restrictions.
Late last week, the remains of some 215 children were found in a mass grave in an area where an Indigenous residential school once stood.
