Buffer zone

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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