England: Silent Prayer near Abortion Clinics Expected to be Made a "Crime"

So-called "buffer zones" around abortion clinics will come into force in England and Wales on October 31. It will be a "crime" to "persuade" a mother to keep her unborn child, e.g. by offering vital support.

There are still conflicting reports about what the law exactly covers. Bbc.co.uk reports that silent prayer is expected to fall within the scope of the law. Police and prosecutors will be given guidance on how to enforce the law in the coming weeks.

Auxiliary Bishop John Sherrington of Westminster said in a weak statement on September 18 that the legislation is "a step backwards in the protection of religious and civic freedoms".

In September 2023, the former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, told the police that "silent prayer is not in itself unlawful": "Holding lawful opinions, even if those opinions may offend others, is not a crime".

The human rights activist Isabel Vaughan-Spruce has been arrested twice for praying silently in a local buffer zone. So far, her treatment has been ruled "unjust" by the courts and she has received a payout.

Picture: RightToLife.org.uk, #newsGzykcyjcpd