As lawmakers are currently considering a bill that would enact an expansive buffer zone around abortion facilities in Scotland, one legislator has been blasted as “ignorant” for saying the zones should not attempt to limit silent prayer.
MSP Kate Forbes recently made her comments in an interview with the Scottish Catholic media group Sancta Familia. Though she didn’t explicitly say she was against the idea of a buffer zone, she cautioned against an attempt to limit prayer.
“I do not think that you can ban prayer. So I think that silent prayer is essential and that is an important freedom to uphold,” she said. “I think also though, you cannot protect harassment and anti-social behaviour. So that should be banned. I think this bill has got to get the right balance because, of course, in some of these clinics, people are going for a host of different reasons. It’s important to protect their freedom to access that care, as well as protect the freedom of those to pray in a peaceful way.”
The group Back Off Scotland, which is campaigning in favor of buffer zones, bristled at Forbes’ comments.
“We’ve heard from hundreds of women who have been negatively impacted by the behaviours of these groups – silent or otherwise – at the gates of abortion clinics across Scotland. It’s very concerning that despite that information being in the public domain and multiple women bravely speaking out about their experiences, Kate Forbes still feels emboldened to make these ignorant comments,” a group spokesperson said.
“Women accessing abortion healthcare shouldn’t have to run the gauntlet of protestors, silent or otherwise,” added Labour MSP Monica Lennon. “The harassment and intimidation of women at abortion clinics comes in many guises and it must stop.”
A similar law limiting silent prayer outside abortion facilities in England has had a confusing impact as to whether it should or should not be enforced. There have been several arrests for silent prayer in that country; in some instances, charges have been dropped and apologies issued, but in others, the criminal cases are continuing.
British Home Secretary Suella Braverman also instructed police in September that “silent prayer, within itself, is not unlawful,” though it’s unclear what impact her comments have had on the buffer zone law.
