The son of a Canadian pastor faces potential fines and jail time for allegedly violating a new city regulation in Calgary, Alberta, when he preached and read the Bible outside a children’s drag story at a public library on Saturday.
Nathaniel Pawlowski, son of the pastor of the Cave of Adullam congregation, the Rev. Artur Pawlowski, was arrested for preaching and reading the Bible outside the Calgary public library, allegedly in violation of a new city law that bans protests within 10 meters from a library.
“We just went there to preach and read the Bible and just talk,” Nathaniel Pawlowski, 23, told Fox News Digital about the incident, which was captured on video.
Pawlowski said he and friend Deklan Friesen were speaking at a gathering outside the library when police detained them, removing them from the crowd and issuing them tickets. The reason given was an alleged violation of the statute, Pawlowski said.
Nathaniel Pawlowski reads the Bible outside the Calgary Public Library as protesters demonstrate with placards and a trans flag. (Nathaniel Pawlowski)
Last month, the Calgary City Council passed the Safe and Inclusive Access Act, which bans protests within 100 yards of a recreational facility or library entrance. The council also amended its public behavior policy to include the term “intimidation,” according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
The changes were made shortly after the Rev. Derek Reimer was arrested for disrupting a children’s drag story hour at Calgary’s Seton Library. Reimer has been arrested three times in recent weeks and spent the Easter weekend behind bars.
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Pawlowski said that despite the presence of counter-protesters at the event who ostensibly supported transgender ideology — including several people waving Pride flags attempting to disrupt his preaching — only he and Friesen received tickets.
Nathaniel Pawlowski, second from right, holds a Bible and stands with friend Deklan Friesen as officers detain them. (Nathaniel Pawlowski)
“I asked the peace officers if they will enforce the same law on the other side with the Antifa protesters, and he assured me [they would]’ Pawlowski said.
Pawlowski said his outdoor preaching emphasized “morality, biblical standards, sexual immorality and how this radical gender ideology has gone too far.”
He also noted that, according to footage shot at the event, an officer at the scene answered “Yes” when asked if they were issuing tickets “only those who [Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek] opposes”.
Nathaniel Pawlowski and friend Deklan Friesen address the crowd outside the Calgary Public Library. (Nathaniel Pawlowski)
“They’re just doing the mayor’s bidding and going after whoever the mayor opposes,” Pawlowski said, adding that he believes the law banning public protests is “completely unconstitutional” and that Gondek pushed it “because it’s completely biased.” against anyone who disagrees with this agenda of the alphabetic community.”
When asked for comment, the Calgary Police Service referred Fox News Digital to the city of Calgary, which did not respond at the time of publication.
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An officer at the Calgary event wears a vest emblazoned with “police” in rainbow letters. (Nathaniel Pawlowski)
Pawlowski said his ticket does not include any penalties, but does require him to appear in court. Each charge under municipal law carries a maximum penalty of up to $10,000 or six months in prison, according to the CBC.
“[Police] he said detectives need to look at the evidence about me and that they will stop by my house to file a complaint,” Pawlowski said. “So, I assume that means additional charges, I’m not really sure. But they said they would come to my house to issue more charges.”
An officer issues a ticket to Deklan Friesen for allegedly violating a municipal bylaw by preaching outside a public library. (Nathaniel Pawlowski)
Nathaniel’s father, Artur, made international headlines when he was arrested and jailed multiple times for keeping his church open during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was slapped with more than 40 citations and spent 51 consecutive days in two different jails last year. During an interview with Fox News Digital shortly after his release, he said authorities placed him in a psychiatric ward and tried unsuccessfully to incite other inmates to harm him.
Nathaniel Pawlowski says young people in Canada are awakening to their dwindling freedom, noting the case of Ontario high school student Josh Alexander. The 17-year-old recently filed a human rights complaint after St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Renfrew suspended him for staging a student walkout to protest its policy of allowing biological males into girls’ bathrooms.
Nathaniel Pawlowski’s father Artur is arrested by Calgary police in the middle of a highway on his way home from church on May 8, 2021. (Artur Pawlowski)
“I think young people have had enough of this agenda being shoved down their throats at every corner,” Pawlowski said. “Every aspect of society is pushing this on us. You have mainstream media, movies, TV, Big Tech, all social media, government, laws. All aspects of society are constantly pushing down our throats, and it’s so openly against biology, truth, objective reality and morality”.
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“My religious beliefs are not consistent with this program, so I think a lot of people feel the same way and will also start lobbying against this,” he added.
