London, England, Oct 14, 2023 / 07:00 am
The Catholic Church in Scotland has warned that a draft law concerning buffer zones around abortion clinics would “crush” freedom of expression and religion.
The new bill, sponsored by Gillian Mackay, member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), would make any form of pro-life outreach or demonstration within 200 meters (656 feet) of an abortion clinic illegal, meaning that the new law would be the “most extreme” in the world, according to pro-life organizations.
A spokesperson for the Catholic Church in Scotland told CNA in a statement on Oct. 9 that “Gillian Mackay’s proposals are the very definition of intolerance; they would crush and curtail expressions of speech, religion, association, and conscience. It is to be hoped that MSPs will reject them.”
The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill would create a minimum of 656 feet of “safe access” surrounding any premises that perform abortions and would also allow abortion providers to make an application to extend the relevant buffer zone ever further.