Bishop warns UK Supreme Court ruling on abortion clinic buffer zones
Bishop John Sherrington said in his statement: “The recent UK Supreme Court ruling on the human rights compatibility of so-called ‘Safe Access Zones’ around abortion facilities in Northern Ireland, heightens the bishops’ serious concerns around Clause 9 as amended of the Public Order Bill. It will further energise those attempting to criminalise similar activities here in England and Wales. The now ‘rights-compatible’ Clause 5(2) of the Abortion Services Northern Ireland Bill, seeks a complete ban on pro-life activities, including prayer and respectful witness, outside abortion clinics by means of criminalisation. Clause 9 of the Public Order Bill, goes much further than Clause 5(2). It seeks to criminalise a range of activities within a 150m radius of an abortion clinic, under the broad premises of ‘interference’, which includes mere presence, seeking or attempting to influence, advise or persuade or otherwise expressing opinion…They have potentially wide-reaching implications for freedom of religion and speech. They also raise important questions about the state’s powers in relation to the individual in a free society, both for those with faith and those without…”
