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Judge to decide if Edmonton-area pastor accused of violating public health orders will receive bail
his lawyer argued he should be free to lead worshippers until his trial.James Coates with GraceLife Church, west of Edmonton, has been in jail for over two weeks and is appealing his bail conditions. GraceLife Church pastor should be allowed to lead services until his trial: lawyer Coates is charged with violating Alberta’s Public Health Act and with breaking a promise to abide by conditions of his bail release, which is a Criminal Code offence.His lawyer, James Kitchen, told court Thursday that Coates can’t follow a bail condition that forbids him from holding services, because that would violate his conscience by disobeying God.A prosecutor argued that the pastor’s release is a danger to the public.