En gruppe prester fra ulike kirkesamfunn har forfattet et opprop der de fordømmer unntakstilstanden og sier Trudeau splitter befolkningen. Prestene sier Trudeau har tilranet seg makt han ikke har ut fra forfatningen. Han kan ikke oppheve garanterte rettigheter etter forgodtbefinnende.

A group of Canadian clergy sent an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week rebuking him for invoking the Emergencies Act to quell the Freedom Convoy and for other actions they described as «tyrannical.»

«We are writing to you as representative pastors of Christian congregations from across the nation and as law-abiding citizens who respect the God-defined role of civil government and uphold the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the highest law of our land, which recognizes the supremacy of God over all human legislation,» read the letter, which was signed by 29 clergymen and remains open for other Canadians to sign.

Trudeau hadde en enestående sjanse til å møte vanlige canadiere og snakke med dem. Men den grep han ikke, heter det i brevet.

«The Ottawa protest has presented your government with a wonderful opportunity to meet with and speak to ordinary Canadians lawfully and peaceably requiring the restoration of their constitutional rights,» they wrote.

Demonstrantene har oppført seg eksemplarisk. Likevel velger Trudeau unntakstilstand og nå også fysisk vold. Det er prester blant demonstrantene.

«However, in response to their singing, praying, dancing, candy floss, bouncy castles, speeches about the Constitution and outpourings of patriotic love for the country, your government has not only refused to meet with these citizens to hear their concerns, you have insulted, denigrated and lied about them, further dividing a hurting and broken nation.»

Trudeau har beskyldt demonstrantene for å romme nazister og rasister. Det har vært to episoder og i minst ett av dem var det snakk om en provokasjon. Trudeau våget å slynge hakekorsflagget i ansiktet på en jødisk parlamentariker denne uken.

Mest alvorlig er maktarrogansen: Trudeau tror han kan fjerne folks rettigheter etter eget forgodtbefinnende.

The pastors went on to rebuke Trudeau and his government for seemingly believing that they have the authority to bestow and remove fundamental rights at will.

Trudeau har brutt mange av Bibelens bud om hvordan man behandler hverandre og har gjort opprør mot Gud.

«These tyrannical actions are exposing this government and people to the judgment of God, and we are deeply concerned that you do not appreciate the significance of God’s wrath upon a rebellious and lawless nation,» they warned in closing.

The pastors concluded by urging Trudeau «to repent of the sins of pride, rebellion against God, and bearing false witness.»

«You have not displayed a brotherly care and love for these honest hard-working people who have tried to peacefully bring their very serious concerns to your attention,» they added.

Brevet er organisert av Christian Liberty Coalition. Det var denne som fikk 5.000 kirker til å delta i en protest mot en ny lov som kan gi opp mot fem års fengsel for den som ikke bekrefter en persons homoseksualitet eller transeidentitet.

The pastoral letter was organized by Liberty Coalition Canada, a Christian activist organization that was also behind the initiative urging ministers in Canada and the United States to devote their sermons on Jan. 16 to denouncing Bill C-4. The new Canadian law carries a potential five-year jail sentence for counseling that does not affirm homosexuality and transgender identity.

Approximately 5,000 churches joined in the protest from the pulpit, which took place less than a week before the first convoy departed for Ottawa from Prince Rupert, British Columbia, on Jan. 22.

Nedlukningen av kirker mens butikksentre har fått være åpne har fått mange kristne til å reagere. En av dem er pastor Tim Stephens som er blitt arrestert flere ganger.

Among the signatories of the open letter was Rev. Tim Stephens, who was arrested twice last year in front of his family when his Fairview Baptist Church in Calgary continued to congregate. His second arrest, which happened after a police helicopter found his church gathering outside, prompted Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., to send a letter to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urging it to consider adding Canada to its watch list.

Canadian clergy rebuke Trudeau for invoking Emergencies Act, other ‘tyrannical actions’