Artur Pawlowski

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Artur Pawlowski ministering across from city hall (Calgary, Alberta, 2014)

Artur Pawlowski (born March 28, 1973) is a Polish-Canadian Protestant street preacher[1] and political activist.[1][2] He is pastor of the Cave of Adullam congregation in Calgary and previously led the Kings Glory Fellowship (KGF).[3] Pawlowski is also founder and pastor of Street Church Ministries (SCM), a group no longer recognized as a religious or charitable organization by the Canadian government.[3] In September 2022, he became the leader of the Independence Party of Alberta.[4]

Early life[edit]

Pawlowski was born on March 28, 1973, in Kożuchów, Poland. By 1990, he was living in Greece with his family. He emigrated to Canada in 1995 and became a Canadian citizen on February 2, 2004.[5]

Street pastor and political activist[edit]

In 2005, Pawlowski, along with other street evangelists, used the PA system of a truck to deliver sermons around downtown.[6] Pawlowski became the founder and pastor of Street Church Ministries,[3] where he engages in open-air preaching and Christian street outreach.[7] He was also the pastor of Kings Glory Fellowship (KGF).[3]

In December 2009, a provincial court judge struck down several City of Calgary infractions issued against Pawlowski and the SCM, saying that "the City's attempts... to limit the scope of the efforts by the accused to minister to his congregants, fall precariously close to being excessive and, to any reasonable observer, an abuse of power."[3]

In 2010, Pawlowski's ministry lost its charitable status as a religious organization for its "non-partisan political activities".[1] Pawlowski opposes abortion and homosexuality.[2]

Artur has been recognized by various groups. In 2012, for his support of Israel, he received the Honorary Chaplain Position for the Province of Alberta from the Magen David Adom.[8][9] for the Province of Alberta from the Christian Friends of Canadian Magen David Adom (CFMDA). In 2011 Bishop Dr. Gerry Kibarabara,[10] the secretary general of United Christian Churches of Kenya's Supreme Council, presented Pawlowski with honorary ordination for his humanitarian work in Africa.[11] He is the first ever to hold such a position for the province of Alberta. On April 28, 2012, the Progressive Group for Independent Business (PGIB), a membership-funded conservative business group in Canada, awarded Pawlowski the 'Free Speech Award'.[8]

As of October 2013, Pawlowski continued to hold "prayer meetings inside the Calgary City Hall's main atrium despite eight years of legal issues including "several court cases, hundreds of bylaw tickets and trespassing notices.".[12][13]

In 2014, Pawlowski was fined for his attempt to participate in the 2012 Calgary Stampede parade with his followers without official permission.[14]

Ric McIver / “lake of fire” controversy[edit]

Politician Ric McIver regularly attended Calgary's "March for Jesus" organized by Pawlowski—who McIver said was a friend. In 2013, McIver "cut the ribbon for the parade".[15] In 2014, when McIver was running for leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, Pawlowski endorsed McIver[16] and Pawlowski's Street Church prominently featured a photo of McIver and Pawlowski beside a text condemning homosexuals.[15]

Anti-LGBT activism[edit]

Pawlowski stated that the 2013 Alberta Floods were caused by God's vengeance over LGBT+ Albertans. The Calgary Herald stated he was a "controversial street minister" who "once claimed the 2013 southern Alberta floods were caused, in part, by God’s unhappiness about homosexuality."[17]

In 2015, Pawlowski appeared at a press conference with a member of his congregation along with a Calgary Transit bus driver who had been fired for refusing to drive Calgary's Pride-themed rainbow bus.[17] The bus driver said he was fired for being Christian.[17]

COVID-19 anti-mask and anti-lockdown activism[edit]

In December 2020, Pawlowski was fined for failing to wear a mask and failing to have a permit for an anti-mask demonstration held in late November 2020.[18]

By 2021, Pawlowski was pastor of The Cave of Adullam congregation in Calgary as well as Street Church Ministries.[19]

In February 2021, Pawlowski marched in and led an anti-lockdown rally in Downtown Calgary while holding a tiki torch during the daytime.[20]

For Easter 2021, police were called to Pawlowski's congregation over reports that Pawlowski and his church "were not adhering to the government’s COVID-19 public health orders."[21] He repeatedly referred to the police and a Public Health Inspector as "Nazis" and "Gestapo" and demanded them to leave the congregation. The police left and no tickets were issued.[22][23][24] Pawlowski was later charged for organizing, promoting and attending an illegal in-person gathering that violated evidence-based public health orders and was arrested by the Calgary Police Service.[25]

On May 8, 2021, Canadian police arrested Pawlowski for "organizing an illegal in-person gathering" in Calgary.[26] He was charged with contempt of a public health order (CPHO), and was later released from custody.[27] He was found guilty on June 28.[28] Alberta Health Services suggested he should face a short prison sentence.[29]

On September 27, 2021, Pawlowski was arrested once again by the CBSA after landing at the Calgary International Airport, but was released later that day.[30] He had just returned to Canada after spending more than a month touring the United States where he participated in events with well known conservative figures on the subject of COVID-19 related government mandates.[31] The Calgary Police say he is being charged with disobeying a court order and failing to wear a mask.[31]

On October 13, he was sentenced for his earlier CPHO conviction, receiving a $23,000 fine and 18 months of probation.[32] His probation conditions include being ordered to obey public health orders, to remain in Alberta, and to explain whenever they speak publicly that their views are contrary to public health experts and scientific consensus. He was also required to pay Alberta Health Services' estimated $20,000 legal costs.[32][33]

Justice Adam Germain ruled that, "as part of their probation, [Artur Pawlowski and his brother] were also ordered to include in any public speeches that criticize COVID-19 measures a reference to the fact their views are contradicted by the majority of scientific opinion."[34] He appealed the ruling on Charter grounds.[34] The brothers said the order violated their right to free speech.[34]

On 25 November 2021, Justice Jo-Anne Strekaf of the Alberta Court of Appeal countermanded the ruling until the case was heard on its full merits on 14 June 2022.[35] Both Fox News and the National Post called the Germain ruling a "compelled speech order".[36] The Alberta Court of Appeals subsequently suspended the sanctions due to AHS procedural issues, and considered the 3 days in prison and 10 months of probation served, as well as a $10,000 fine, as suitable punishments for the offences committed in violation of public health orders.[37]

Breach of court order[edit]

On 2 January 2022, he was arrested on Crowchild Trail and "charged with one count of breaching a judge's order that restrained [Pawlowski] from attending any illegal public gathering".[38] Authorities "confirmed a protest took place at Health Minister Jason Copping’s home on Saturday afternoon".[39] The bail judge imposed "conditions that [Pawlowski has] no contact with Copping and [does] not attend his residence" while he waited for a trial on the merits.[38]

Arrest at Coutts, Alberta Border Crossing[edit]

Pawlowski was arrested on 7 February 2022 at the Coutts, Alberta border crossing blockade after encouraging protesters to back out of an agreement they had made with RCMP to leave the area.[40] The protesters were demanding the lifting of vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers, as well as the lifting of other pandemic-related public health restrictions. Pawlowski gave a speech to protesters in Coutts a week earlier, saying that "for freedom to be preserved, people must be willing to sacrifice their lives. This is our time." He was charged with mischief over $5,000 and interrupting the operation of essential infrastructure under Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.[40]

On 16 February, Alberta Provincial Court Judge Erin Olsen denied bail for Pawlowski, saying "there is a substantial likelihood that the accused will, if released from custody, continue on offending."[41] Olsen also clarified that inciting others to criminal activity would not be protected by the right to free speech in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[41]

After Pawlowski's lawyers submitted a release plan to the court, Justice Gaylene Kendall overturned Olsen's ruling on 25 March and granted release conditions. Pawlowski was ordered to pay a $25,000 cash deposit, put under curfew and forbidden from attending protests, and the court required sureties from Pawlowski's wife and son.[42] Pawlowski remained in custody pending a bail hearing on earlier charges, but was released on 30 March.[43] In late Juy 2022, the Alberta Court of Appeal recognized procedural issues around how the public health order was applied and acknowledged that the time he had already served were sufficient punishments for ignoring public health orders, thus returning some of the fines that Pawlowski has paid.[1]

Church's charitable status revoked by CRA[edit]

In January 2010, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revoked the charitable status of Pawlowski's Calgary-based non-denominational Protestant church, then known as Kings Glory Fellowship (KGF).[1] Reasons for the loss of charity status included the "strong negative views about sensitive and controversial issues" held by some members of the KGF Board of Directors. These issues, such as abortion, homosexuality, divorce, and other moral issues were considered to be political, according to the CRA.[3] Pawlowski said that he spoke "openly on radio, in paper, and on TV" about his opinions and that this is "what happens when you express your views as a pastor."[3] Lack of clarity on how the organization spent its money was also cited as a reason for its charitable status being revoked.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Calgary church loses charitable status for its "non-partisan political activities"". National Post. January 22, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Rally in front of Calgary city hall turns violent". CBC News. July 16, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Craine, Patrick (January 22, 2010). "Calgary Church Loses Charity Status: Opposition to Abortion, Homosexuality Cited as Reasons". ARPA Canada. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  4. ^ Bradley, Jonathan (September 14, 2022). "Pawlowski wins Independence Party of Alberta leadership race". Western Standard. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Lethebo Thobejane, "Poland born Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski have been arrested for holding church service: Who Is Pastor Artur Pawlowski", latestnewssouthafrica.com, May 11, 2021, accessed July 16, 2021
  6. ^ Syratt, John (August 31, 2005), Church Growing on the Streets
  7. ^ "Street Church". Street Church.
  8. ^ a b Pawlowski, Artur (June 7, 2012). "Artur Pawlowski receives 'Free Speech Award'". Street Church. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  9. ^ "Honorary Chaplains". Canadian Magen David Adom for Israel. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  10. ^ "Leadership". Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  11. ^ "Street church honoured in Kenya". Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  12. ^ Gerson, Jen. "Street preacher accuses Calgary officials of having a vendetta in eight-year battle over noise complaints". National Post. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  13. ^ Levant, Ezra. "Penalties for preaching". Sun News. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  14. ^ "Street Church preacher Artur Pawlowski was fined Monday for breaking a city bylaw by trying to crash the 2012 Calgary Stampede parade with a group of his parishioners".
  15. ^ a b Gerson, Jen (June 14, 2014). "Ric McIver considers Artur Pawlowski a friend". National Post. Calgary, Alberta. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Climenhaga, David. "Anti-gay pastor, denied by Ric McIver, endorses the PC leadership candidate anyway". rabble.ca. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  17. ^ a b c Stark, Erika (September 15, 2015). "Driver who opposed Calgary Transit's Pride bus says he was let go". Calgary Herald. Calgary. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  18. ^ "Anti-mask organizers charged for weekend rally in Calgary". CBC.
  19. ^ Staples, Dave (April 6, 2021). "Kenney is damned if he does, but more damned if he doesn't when it comes to new lockdown restrictions". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Tiki torches, Trump flags, no masks: anti-lockdown protesters march in downtown Calgary". CityNews Edmonton. February 27, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  21. ^ Oshin, Olafimihan (April 5, 2021). "Calgary pastor calls police 'Nazis' for doing COVID check over Easter weekend". The Hill. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  22. ^ Herring, Jason (April 4, 2021). "'Don't come back': Preacher yells at police and AHS inspector, orders them out of downtown church". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  23. ^ Warmington, Joe (April 5, 2021). "WARMINGTON: Calling them 'Nazis,' pastor kicks police out of church at Easter". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  24. ^ Foley, Ryan (April 7, 2021). "Canadian pastor says attacks on church services bring back memories of communism". Christian Post. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Calgary Pastor Accused of Organizing and Promoting Gatherings to Appear in Court". Archived from the original on May 11, 2021.
  26. ^ Benjamin Fearnow (May 9, 2021). "Preacher Artur Pawlowski, Who Hurled 'Nazi' Insults at Cops, Arrested for Flouting COVID Rules". Newsweek.
  27. ^ "Controversial Calgary pastor released from custody". Calgary. May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  28. ^ Grant, Meghan (June 28, 2021). "Alberta pastor, brother, café owner guilty of contempt for breaking COVID-19 health rules". CBC News. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  29. ^ Graveland, Bill (September 13, 2021). "Health agency wants jail time for Calgary pastor and brother for breaking COVID rules". Canadian Press. Retrieved October 13, 2021 – via CBC News.
  30. ^ "Pastor Artur Pawlowski arrested again in Calgary". Global News. October 3, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Controversial preacher arrested on Calgary tarmac for warrants after U.S. anti-vaxx speaking tour". CBC.ca. October 3, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021.
  32. ^ a b White, Ryan (October 13, 2021). "Calgary pastor, brother fined $33K, ordered to cover $20K in AHS legal fees". CTV News Calgary. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  33. ^ Grant, Meghan (October 13, 2021). "Anti-mask activists ordered by Calgary judge to preach science, too". CBC.
  34. ^ a b c "Calgary pastor and brother appealing sanctions for violating COVID-19 rules". Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Corus News. Canadian Press. November 2, 2021.
  35. ^ "Court of Appeal suspends punishment of Pastor Artur Pawlowski". Lake Superior News. November 25, 2021.
  36. ^ Brown, Jon (December 3, 2021). "Canadian judge stays compelled speech order issued against pastor whenever he speaks publicly about COVID-19". Fox News.
  37. ^ "Alberta appeal court sets aside contempt sanctions against pastor, brother and cafe owner". CBC News. July 2022.
  38. ^ a b Grant, Meghan (January 2, 2022). "Controversial preacher and his brother arrested after protest at Alberta health minister's house: lawyer". CBC.
  39. ^ Rodriguez, Michael (January 3, 2022). "Pawlowski brothers granted bail after protest at Alberta health minister's home". Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
  40. ^ a b Grant, Meghan (February 9, 2022). "Controversial Calgary preacher incited violence in Coutts, prosecutor alleges at bail hearing". CBC News. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  41. ^ a b Martin, Kevin (February 16, 2022). "Street Church minister to remain behind bars pending trial for allegedly inciting border blockade". Calgary Herald. PostMedia. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  42. ^ Martin, Kevin (March 25, 2022). "Minister accused of inciting protesters granted bail after judge overturns ruling". Calgary Herald. PostMedia. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  43. ^ Martin, Kevin (March 30, 2022). "Street Church minister Artur Pawlowski released on bail on charges unrelated to Coutts border blockade". Calgary Herald. PostMedia. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
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