March for Life UK / Facebook
CV NEWS FEED // United Kingdom pro-life activists have vowed to continue pro-life activism despite the country’s new “buffer zone” laws, which prevent “influencing” a woman seeking abortion within a 150-meter radius of abortion clinics.
Daily Mail reports that the new law allows unlimited fines for violators.
Clare McCullough from the pro-life organization Good Counsel Network stated that she will continue her work outside of the buffer zones, though other activists may continue their work inside the zones.
Daily Mail reports that McCullough stated, “For the moment we will hold the vigils further away but it’s not a just law.”
She continued, “I think people may break the law, I can see vigils will break the law because it is an unjust law, it is kind of a ridiculous law to implement.”
McCullough added, “Let’s be honest, if we were talking about any other service in the world, Botox, getting a tooth out, and someone was standing by the door and offering you a leaflet, saying there is an alternative treatment available or support, nobody would be saying it is intimidating.”
As CatholicVote previously reported, Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom International in London, expressed concern over the October 31 law.
“The law is written so vaguely that peaceful, consensual conversations, or even silent thoughts, could be made illegal on certain streets of England,” he said.
He addressed the prosecution of Adam Smith-Connor, whom Igunnubole represented in court. Smith-Connor was fined 9,000 pounds for silently praying outside of an abortion clinic. However, he is petitioning the charges as the state clarified that buffer zone laws do “not necessarily” forbid silent prayer.
