Over 100 gather outside courts as 7 churches fight restrictions

Tobias Tissen has told the court he cannot force worshippers to follow Manitoba's public health orders because he says, it's "God's jurisdiction."

Tissen is a minister at the Church of God just south of Steinbach, Man. It's one of seven churches in the Court of Queen's Bench in Winnipeg this week that are fighting the province's COVID-19 restrictions.

Videos of services at the Church of God in January were entered in court and show people singing, hugging and going without face masks despite restrictions at the time that required churches to remain closed.

Following his testimony, Tissen joined at least 100 protestors in support of the legal challenge outside the courthouse.

The hearings are set to continue Tuesday.