Buffer zone

The Latest

The flag of Scotland.

New bill introduces world’s most extreme abortion buffer zone law to Scotland

Oct 14, 2023

By Madeleine Teahan

The bill, if passed, would make any form of pro-life outreach or demonstration within 656 feet of an abortion clinic... Read more

“This isn’t 1984, but 2023 —I should never have been arrested or investigated simply for the thoughts I held in my own mind,” Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested for praying outside of an abortion clinic, said Sept. 22, 2023.

Woman arrested for silent prayer at UK abortion clinics gets police apology

Sep 22, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce has received a police apology and confirmation that she will not face charges for violating a local “buffer... Read more

A pro-life woman is arrested for praying silently in alleged violation of a local buffer zone law.

UK home secretary tells police that ‘silent prayer’ is not a crime

Sep 8, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s comments follow several arrests of pro-life activists for praying outside of abortion clinics. Read more

Adam Smith-Connor was fined for “praying for [his] son, who is deceased” near an abortion facility in Bournemouth, England.

UK man fined for praying outside abortion clinic now faces criminal charges

Aug 4, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Authorities have filed criminal charges against Adam Smith-Connor, who was fined in 2022 for praying silently within an abortion facility... Read more

Father Sean Gough, a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, England, faced criminal charges for praying for free speech outside an abortion clinic after business hours in violation of a strict buffer zone law in the English city of Birmingham. “I pray wherever I go, inside my head, for the people around me. How can it be a crime for a priest to pray?” he said in a Feb. 9, 2023, statement from the ADF UK legal group.

UK bishops say law criminalizing prayer outside of abortion clinics is discriminatory

Mar 16, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic bishops in the United Kingdom said a new law criminalizing prayer and outreach outside abortion clinics discriminates against people... Read more

Sign at 2021 March for Life

Pro-life groups challenge Louisville buffer-zone ordinance

Jun 30, 2021

By Kate Scanlon

Pro-life groups this week challenged a “buffer zone” ordinance approved by the city of Louisville, Kentucky. Read more

Pro-life prayer outside an abortion clinic.

Mississippi pro-lifers file suit against abortion clinic protest restrictions

Oct 16, 2019

Pro-life advocates in Jackson, Mississippi have filed a lawsuit against a new city ordinance that would restrict protesters’ ability to... Read more

People praying at an abortion clinic.

Don't muzzle peaceful pro-life outreach, UK bishop says

Feb 17, 2018

Proposals to bar pro-life demonstrations and outreach with a legal ‘buffer zone’ outside abortion clinics drew objections from a leading... Read more