A retired pastor in the United Kingdom is awaiting a ruling after standing trial Wednesday on criminal charges stemming from a gospel sermon he preached near a hospital.

Clive Johnston, 77, faces two charges tied to a July 7, 2024, sermon on John 3:16 that he delivered near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. Prosecutors claim he violated Northern Ireland’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act 2023 by preaching near a hospital where abortions are performed. If convicted, he could face a criminal record and a fine of up to £2,500 ($3,376).

Johnston may be the first person prosecuted under the law for preaching a sermon unrelated to abortion in a protected zone, according to the Christian Institute, which is supporting his legal case.

At Wednesday’s hearing at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court, a District Judge announced he would reserve judgment until May 7, according to the legal group.

A newly released police bodycam video of the July 2024 incident was shared with Fox News Digital on Wednesday. In the video, an officer approaches Johnston to tell him he is in a clearly marked safe access zone and cannot be filming or preaching in the area.

“You can say to yourself, in the goodness of my heart, I am coming here to preach the word of God,” the officer says at one point. “However, if you are reckless, as to the effect that it could have on patients, staff, or any protected person, then you may be committing an offense.”

“That is an incredible thought,” Johnston replies in the video. “Because what you’re saying is the word of God, which the country has had free to proclaim and read in church for hundreds of years, freedom since the Magna Carta, suddenly could become offensive because it’s outside a hospital.”

The officer goes on to tell Johnston that he may go inside the chaplaincy area in the hospital if he wants a “safe area” to give “religious guidance or comfort or help.”

“But while you’re out here in the Safe Access Zone, any act in that area which may dissuade any protected person from availing services, harassment or cause them distress, is an offense,” he added.

Prosecutors accuse Johnston of “influencing a protected person, whether directly or indirectly,” by conducting a “protest” near the hospital, where abortions are performed, in violation of the 2023 law. He is also accused of failing to leave the safe access zone when directed.

The Christian Institute said Johnston’s sermon did not mention abortion.

Ahead of the hearing, the U.S. State Department expressed concern about Johnston’s case.

“The United States is still monitoring many ‘buffer zone’ cases in the U.K., as well as other acts of censorship across Europe,” the department told The Telegraph.

Referring to other cases of Christians prosecuted under the abortion law for silent prayer, the department added, “The U.K.’s persecution of silent prayer represents not only an egregious violation of the fundamental right to free speech and religious liberty, but also a concerning departure from the shared values that ought to underpin U.S.-U.K. relations.”

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Simon Calvert, deputy director of the Christian Institute, said Johnston’s prosecution sets a troubling new precedent in the U.K.

“Should a law designed to stop abortion protests be used to criminalize gospel preaching? John 3:16 is a wonderful, famous verse and everyone knows it says nothing about abortion,” he said in a press release. “We have amazing freedom in this country to share the Christian message. That’s why we’ve taken on this case. Prosecuting Pastor Johnston for preaching ‘God so loved the world’ near a hospital on a quiet Sunday is a shocking new attempt to restrict freedom of religion and freedom of speech in a part of the world where open-air gospel services are a part of the culture.”

Johnston said he was grateful that the judge had decided to take time to think about his case before issuing a ruling because “there is a lot at stake.”

“It’s a difficult thing to go through, but we are upheld by the prayers of God’s people, and we have drawn near to Christ for help and strength,” he said. “Christ is the most precious thing in the world to us and that is why we are so keen to talk about him in the highways and byways of this land that we love.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to put their foot on the Denver Nuggets‘ throat when they host Game 4 Saturday in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at the Target Center at 8:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota beat the brakes off Denver 113-96 in Game 3 Thursday to take a 2-1 series lead.

Now, both teams have -110 odds to win this series at DraftKings. The T-Wolves are slight home underdogs — +1.5 on the spread and +102 on the money line — and the total is 229.5.

WHY BETTING THUNDER -9.5 AGAINST THE SUNS FEELS LIKE A SAFE PLAY IN A LOPSIDED SERIES

In an unexpected twist, the Timberwolves have made Nuggets’ three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic seem mortal. Although Jokic is still getting his numbers, he’s been less efficient. The Joker is shooting just 40.0% from the field and 20.8% from behind the arc with a -6 net rating.

Denver’s other major concern is the health of its only good defensive player, forward Aaron Gordon, who missed Game 3 and is “questionable” for Saturday. Even if Gordon plays Game 4, how effective will he be? And does it matter anyway? That’s what I’m here to discuss.

I’m expecting a Jokic bounce-back game Saturday. He’s just too good. Nikola has averaged a triple-double in three of his last four NBA playoffs, and he usually balls up T-Wolves C Rudy Gobert.

However, this is a bad matchup for the Nuggets because they need PG Jamal Murray to play like an All-Star, and the Timberwolves have two of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.

Murray is averaging 25.3 points per game in this series, but he is shooting 35.9% from the field and 22.2% from 3-point range. That’s just not going to cut it. And it won’t get easier for him either because McDaniels is picking Murray up full-court.

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Meanwhile, with or without Gordon, Denver has a terrible defense. Sure, having Jokic gives the Nuggets a chance to beat anyone, but you can’t win a title with the 21st-ranked defensive efficiency in the Association.

Also, Minnesota is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the NBA, and role players shoot better at home. The T-Wolves are sixth in 3-point shooting percentage and allow the fewest 3-pointers per game on defense.

Lastly, this will be a contrarian bet with the public most likely backing Denver because people will think, “The Nuggets won’t go down 3-1 in this series. They are the better team with the best player in the world.”

Well, I’m here to tell you those people are wrong, and the Timberwolves are winning Game 4.

Prediction: Timberwolves 117, Nuggets 110

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Follow me on X @Geoffery-Clark, and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants.

Two officers are injured, one of them critically, after a shooting at Chicago’s Swedish Hospital, according to FOX 32 Chicago.

A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed the shooting to Fox News Digital.

“Around 11:00am, there was a shooting at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital. The campus is currently closed while law enforcement leads their investigation,” a spokesperson for Endeavor Health told Fox News Digital. “We are not aware of any active threat within the hospital and patients and team members at Swedish Hospital are safe.”

Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez’s office told FOX 32 that a suspect was taken into custody.

WGN-TV reported that the shooting happened while officers were transporting a prisoner to or from the hospital. 

Chicago police did not immediately have more information available when contacted by Fox News Digital.

Police are expected to provide an update to the public Saturday afternoon. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.