London, England, Sep 25, 2018 / 12:09 pm
Catholic leaders and pro-life advocates in England and Wales are praising the government's decision not to impose buffer zones around abortion clinics throughout the territory, allowing peaceful protests to continue.
British Home Secretary Sajid Javid rejected proposals for buffer zones around abortion clinics throughout England and Wales as disproportionate in a Sept. 13 decision, after finding that most abortion protests are peaceful and passive. He added that there were "relatively few" reports of "aggressive activities", and noted that in 2017, only 36 of the 363 hospitals and clinics in England and Wales that offer abortions have experienced pro-life demonstrations near their facilities.
Auxiliary Bishop John Sherrington of Westminster praised the Home Office's "proportionate" decision in a Sept. 17 statement.
"It should not be necessary to limit the freedom of individuals or groups to express opinions except when they could cause grave harm to others or a threat to public order," Bishop Sherrington said.