A council in England has made it illegal to pray, use the sign of the cross, or read scripture aloud within an area designated as a “safe zone” surrounding an abortion facility.
The Council of Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole voted to put a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) around the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) abortion facility in Bournemouth, becoming just the fifth facility in the country to have a PSPO, or buffer zone, in place.
“This is truly historic with only a handful of other local authorities addressing the issue of harassment at abortion clinics head on,” Councillor Millie Earl said, according to Yahoo! UK. “Thousands of local people signed the Sister Supporter petition and the public consultation only confirmed support for the use of Public Spaces Protection Order legislation in protecting women accessing legal health care. Tomorrow, though, many more women will be subject to harassment outside clinics up and down the country. It’s time for the government to prohibit this damaging behaviour from anti-abortion groups and introduce a national ban on anti-abortion activity outside clinics. I’m thrilled that women in Bournemouth will be safe but this will become a post-code lottery unless there is action from our politicians.”
Yet not everyone is celebrating the draconian rules behind this “historic” moment. Some are calling it an attack on Christianity, as any expression of faith within the buffer zone is prohibited. Included in the order is a ban on handing out leaflets, holding vigils, and protesting abortion — but it doesn’t end there. Vigils are described as situations where “members audibly pray, recite Scripture, genuflect, sprinkle holy water on the ground or cross themselves if they perceive a service-user is passing by.” Prayer is also banned under the order. The buffer zone is extensive, covering six streets surrounding the abortion facility.
The British parliament has also just approved an order putting similar buffer zones around the entire nation’s abortion facilities, according to the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC). Violating the order carries a potential two-year prison sentence.
“This is a black day for democracy and basic civil liberties. Ordinary, peaceful citizens now risk substantial jail time for the simple act of praying in public, and offering help to women in need. Parliament has literally just criminalised compassion,” Alithea Williams, SPUC’s Public Policy Manager, said in a press release. “And that’s the point,” she continued. “This is not just an outrageous assault on civil liberties, it removes a real lifeline for women. Many children are alive today because their mother received help and support from a compassionate pro-life person outside a clinic. Many women feel like they have to choice to have an abortion, and pro-life vigils give them options. Now their choices have been taken away.”
“We will continue to fight against this cruel and draconian policy,” she added.
