Roman Catholics in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have voiced their strong opposition to the proposed imposition of buffer zones that would criminalise pro-life activity. “Religious freedom is under serious threat”, warned one Catholic group.

The Catholic Parliamentary Office (COP), an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, slammed Scotland’s proposed buffer zones law as the “most extreme of its kind in the world” that could outlaw “audible prayer and silent vigils”.

“The proposals are extremely disproportionate, unnecessary, intolerant, and attack civil liberties”, the CPO stated, also pointing out that, “in England, Catholics have already been arrested for praying silently under similar laws to those being proposed in Scotland”.

Holyrood’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is currently gathering views on Gillian McKay MSP’s Bill to impose buffer zones around abortion facilities in Scotland. The consultation can be found here.

SPUC, submitting its evidence to the consultation, stated that “the use of law to punish people for holding the wrong political or religious opinions should have no place in Scottish society.”

The Society has produced a guide to help supporters respond to the consultation, which closes on 20th December.

Religious freedom under threat in Ireland

Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland Eamon Martin, who is also President of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, similarly slammed buffer zones as a “disproportionate” measure that has “wide implications for freedom of religion and speech”.

The Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 is due to be debated in Ireland’s Seanad today. If passed, the legislation would impose buffer zones similar to those already introduced in England.

Archbishop Martin, however, has defended the “rights of those who wish to peacefully and prayerfully offer support and alternative options and to save the lives of innocent unborn children… [It is] perfectly reasonable to want to reach out in compassion to help vulnerable women and to be free to protect the life and wellbeing of both a mother and her unborn child.”

His Grace also warned that buffer zones, if passed, would set a terrible precedent that might one day lead to pro-life opinion being “excluded from public discourse, censored from newspaper columns, shut down in debates, or kept out via ‘safe access zones’!”

Government launches consultation on buffer zones guidance in England

This week, the Government published draft guidance for buffer zones in England that will be subject to a consultation, ending on 22 January 2024. SPUC will shortly provide supporting guidance for supporters on how to respond.

Several pro-life individuals have already been arrested for praying silently outside abortion facilities in England, including Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested twice, and Adam Smith-Connor, a veteran of Afghanistan, who still awaits trial for praying for his dead son within a buffer zone in Bournemouth.

Smith-Connor, speaking later, said: “Here I stand before you on the steps of Poole Magistrates Court being prosecuted – for a thoughtcrime… I did not approach anyone, I did not speak to anyone, I did not breach anyone’s privacy. I simply stood silently. I am being tried for the prayerful thoughts I held in my head.”

We must all come together to reject buffer zones

SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “Holding open the door to criminalising prayer would be a grotesque intrusion on religious liberty and thought in the UK, and the Government must make absolutely clear that this will not happen.

“Freedom of religion is fundamental to our society and regardless of whether you support the draconian plans to introduce buffer zones adjacent to abortion clinics or not, and trying to criminalise prayer and thought would be a chilling measure.

“As free speech and religious freedom come under increasing threat from abortion ideologues, not just in the UK but also in the Republic of Ireland, Catholics and other pro-lifers must come together in full voice to reject such illiberal and dangerous legislation.