Prayer Is Becoming Criminal In The U.K.

Recent developments suggest that even silent prayers could be considered a criminal offense in the United Kingdom. Catholic priest Father Sean Gough A man from Birmingham, England is currently in the midst a legal fight over his alleged violation of a censorship zone that bans prayer on streets surrounding an abortion facility. This is just the latest case in a series of thought crimes that have impacted fundamental freedoms across the U.K. 

First came Isabel Vaughan -Spruce. The Video The video of Isabel’s arrest became viral and showed the pro-life activist being interrogated by Birmingham police for the simple act of praying in her own privacy. Isabel was arrested for nothing more than silent prayers. “intimidation,” Despite the fact the abortion facility was closed at that time, she continued to pray.

There was international outrage. Is this what is really happening in the U.K.? This is the country that gave birth to the Magna Carta as well as many of our foundational freedoms in the West. 

Next came the army veteran Adam Smith-Connor. Adam, like Isabel, was also fined for violating the censorship area surrounding an abortion facility, Bournemouth in England. He was accused of using silent prayer to violate the zone. He was praying for his son who had lost his child to abortion many years ago. Adam wasn’t there to protest, and strongly opposed harassment of women in whatever form. To make it clear, he prayed with his back towards the facility.

Local matters are important. “community safety accredited officers” He was fined for his thoughts and is now pursuing legal action to protect his fundamental right to think and pray in accordance to his conscience. 

Father Sean’s Case

Now, the U.K. thought crime prosecution against Father Sean isn’t a single incident. Much of Father Sean’s ministry as a priest is in support of women who face abortion. He was actually born to a mother who chose life, after having been urged to have an abortion. Concerned about the state of free speech in his country — most understandably given the spate of recent incidents — Father Sean chose to pray, in silence, for free speech in the vicinity of the same Birmingham abortion facility as Isabel.

To dispel all doubts regarding the purpose of his prayer, he held up a sign saying: “praying for free speech.” His car was also parked in the zone of censorship with a permanent affixed “unborn lives matter” Sticker. He was then threatened with arrest by police and charged criminally for violating the censorship area. Surprisingly, this is the first case in which prayer is not connected to abortion, but free speech has resulted in criminal charges. 

Father Sean, a priest makes it a practice to pray privately wherever he goes. He could now be charged with criminalizing prayer. Father Sean, Adam and Isabel were all targets. “buffer zone” There are a few U.K. cities that have ordinances around abortion facilities. The One Adam was indicted under the following circumstances