Westminster backs abortion up to birth

MPs voted by 379 votes to 137 in favour of an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would change the law to make it legal for women to perform their own abortions up to birth, writes the Catholic Parliamentary Office.

The new law, which will now be considered by the House of Lords, would allow for the abortion of a healthy baby right up until the moment of birth and would include abortion for sex-selective purposes.

Whilst the law would only apply to England & Wales (the law relating to abortion is devolved in Scotland), it will undoubtedly influence similar moves to decriminalise abortion in Scotland.

Despite the law not directly applying to Scotland, many Scottish MPs still voted on the proposal.

Thirty MPs voted in favour, whilst nine voted against.

Seventeen Scottish MPs did not vote, including all nine SNP MPs who, as a matter of party policy, would not vote on laws which are not directly related to Scotland. View the full list of how Scottish MPs voted.

Please use the Write to Them online tool to contact your MP about their vote.

Responding to the vote, Bishop John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley, urged people “never to give up hoping that the dignity of all human life—from conception until natural death—will be upheld and defended on our shores”.

Bishop Keenan expressed his gratitude to all those who engaged with their MPs on the matter and to all who “struggle every day to defend the rights of the unborn in our society and across the world. May God reward your efforts.”

Anthony Horan, Director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office, said that the vote marked “a dark day for our country” and said that MPs were “wildly out of touch with the electorate”, after a poll revealed only 1 per cent of the British public supported abortion up to birth.

Mr Horan quoted Pope John Paul II, who described the culture of death, including abortion and assisted suicide, as a “war of the powerful against the weak”.

He added: “This has never been better illustrated than by MPs in Westminster last night; hundreds of adults gathering to decide the fate of tiny, innocent, unborn babies.”

Paul Atkin, Archdiocesan Pro-Life Officer, said: “MPs ignored warnings that there will be a significant increase in late term abortions and their vote further dehumanises unborn children.

“Pope St John Paul II said that “the acceptance of abortion in the popular mind, in behaviour and even in law itself, is a telling sign of an extremely dangerous crisis of the moral sense, which is becoming more and more incapable of distinguishing between good and evil.” (Evangelium Vitae, no. 58)

“On Friday, MPs will vote on dangerous proposals to allow assisted suicide and I’d urge all Catholics to write to their MPs with their concerns today.  The best way is via https://writetothem.com

How Archdiocesan MPs voted on abortion up to birth:

Against:

John Lamont Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

For:

Brian Leishman Alloa and Grangemouth
Melanie Ward Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
Katrina Murray Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
Graeme Downie Dunfermline and Dollar
Chris Murray Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Tracy Gilbert Edinburgh North and Leith
Ian Murray Edinburgh South
Scott Arthur Edinburgh South West
Christine Jardine Edinburgh West
Euan Stainbank Falkirk
Gregor Poynton Livingston
Susan Murray Mid Dunbartonshire
Kirsty McNeill Midlothian
Wendy Chamberlain North East Fife
Chris Kane Stirling and Strathallan

Did not vote:

Kirsteen Sullivan Bathgate and Linlithgow
David Mundell Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Richard Baker Glenrothes and Mid Fife
Douglas Alexander Lothian East

 

 

 

EVENT: Reflecting on the loss of a child

Losing a child is a painful experience for any parent.

An annual Remembering Service has been held for around 30 years at Ss John the Baptist & Kentigern Parish in Edinburgh to give parents a time to grieve, reflect and pray.

This year it takes place at 5:00pm on Sunday 2 March in St John the Baptist RC Church, Corstorphine.

One of the organisers said: “A variety of people attend, from those whose loss has been quite recent to others whose loss may have been up to 40 years ago.

“There are some who have experienced miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth or the death of an adult son or daughter.

"There are also those who come in support, one of whom recalled that her mother had suffered two miscarriages and she was suddenly struck, during the service, by the realisation that she had two relatives in heaven. She had never thought of it like that before."

The service has been found helpful to those who have not had the opportunity to fully acknowledge and grieve for their loss

The service may be helpful to anyone who feels that they have not had the opportunity to fully acknowledge and grieve for their loss.

The service was developed in the 1990s following a query from two men who had attended a pro-life talk.

The organiser said: “They came up to us at the end and said they felt there was no way of recognising the loss of miscarriage within the Church and asked if we would be able to think of anything.

"That led to us starting the service which has developed, over the years, into what it is now.

"The service has been found helpful to those who have not had the opportunity to fully acknowledge and grieve for their loss.

"There is an opportunity to share stories over tea and coffee after in the hall. For some this is an important part of the service and we try to have someone from Held in our Hearts present.

"It is a time for quiet reflection and can be a time for tears."

A Remembering Service Sunday 2 March 2025 at 5.00pm in St John the Baptist RC Church, Corstorphine, 37, St Ninian’s Road, Edinburgh, EH12 8AL. Ecumenical and open to all. Refreshments available afterwards.

Paul visits Washington DC to March for Life

Paul Atkin, from the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office, joined tens of thousands of pro-lifers  in Washington DC for the recent March for Life.

The annual event is the largest pro-life gathering in the world.

It highlights the need to protect unborn children while advocating for policies that support both mothers and their children.

Paul said: “There was a strong Catholic presence, with numerous bishops, priests, religious orders, and laypeople taking part.

"Many carried banners, prayed the Rosary, and attended Masses and Eucharistic adoration in connection with the event."

Culture of life

He added: "What I remember most is that the event was like an annual Catholic reunion!

"There were lots of parishes and schools, led by their priests and nuns, who had travelled, sometimes for days, to be at the March.

"The 'culture of life' is a vibrant part of the Church in America and it was heartening to witness and be part of."

This year’s march called for renewed efforts to expand support for women facing unplanned pregnancies, improve adoption services, and resist efforts to enshrine abortion access at the state and federal levels.

Participants voiced concerns about continued political and cultural battles over abortion laws, pledging to work toward a society where life is cherished and protected.

US Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, told the crowd: “We march to live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God."

He said that it was the task of government to “make it easier for young moms and dads to afford to have kids, to bring them into the world, and to welcome them as the blessings that we know they are here at the March for Life”.

Paul also met with representatives of the Archdiocese of Washington to discuss pro-life issues and share ideas.

The UK March for Life 2025 is in London on Saturday 6 September 2025 and a bus always runs from Scotland. Contact Paul at the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office for details: prolife@staned.org.uk

Bishops urge ScotGov to respect right to life of the unborn

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to respect the right to life of the unborn child in a submission to the Scottish Government’s Abortion Law Review Expert Working Group, writes the Catholic Parliamentary Office.

The working group has been set up by the Scottish Government to review the current law on abortion and to provide Scottish ministers with recommendations on whether or not aspects of the existing law should be changed.

The bishops’ submission, which you can read in full here continues to affirm the right to life of every human person from conception.

It argues that we have a “collective duty” to “uphold the right to life and to ensure that both mother and child are accepted and loved by a caring, compassionate society.”

The bishops also lament the prevailing anti-life culture which “declares it acceptable to destroy innocent human life in the womb” and says say that it “does not belong to public authorities to recognise the right to life for some, but not for others.”

The bishops, who have also brought into question the legitimacy of the working group which is composed substantially of pro-abortion supporters and has no prolife members, and which has already enshrined a ‘non-regression principle’ to ensure no progress will be countenanced on prolife matters, no matter what evidence comes forward.

Buffer Zone law comes into force in Scotland

A new law which makes it illegal to pray in parts of Scotland is now in force, writes the Catholic Parliamentary Office.

The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024 establishes zones around hospitals and other facilities where abortions are carried out, currently there are 30.

The zones are comprised of the hospital or clinic, the public area of any grounds of the hospital or clinic, and any public areas within 200m of the boundary of the ground.

The law

The law prohibits conduct which seeks to influence the decision of a person regarding accessing, providing, or facilitating abortion services, or which prevents or impedes a person from accessing, providing or facilitating abortion services.

This will mean that women experiencing a crisis pregnancy may be denied the opportunity to freely speak to people and organisations who may be able to help them.

The new law also criminalises causing harassment, alarm or distress to a person accessing abortion services.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has repeatedly condemned all harassment and intimidation of people, including those attending hospitals and other medical facilities.

The Conference has also pointed out that laws are already in place to protect people from such unacceptable behaviour, and it is significant that, in written evidence to the Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Police Scotland stated that “existing powers and offences are sufficient to address any unlawful behaviour in the vicinity of health care premises.”

Disproportionate

The disproportionate law will have a devastating impact on human rights, including the right to free expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Most alarmingly, official documentation accompanying the legislation admits that the proposed new law anticipates criminalising ‘praying audibly’ and ‘silent vigils’.

It is deeply troubling that so many MSPs are so supportive of a law which will make it illegal to pray in certain parts of the country, in an unprecedented example of state overreach.

Only one MSP, John Mason, the member for Glasgow Shettleston, voted against the proposals.

The law will also prohibit certain conduct within private homes, churches and schools situated within the designated zone.

For example, placing a pro-life poster in the window of a private home which happens which is within the zone could be considered criminal behaviour.

When asked about the possibility of having to police people’s thoughts, including whether they were silently praying, Superintendent Gerry Corrigan told the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee that policing thought is an area “we would stay clear of”, later adding “I do not think we could go down the road of asking people what they are thinking or what their thoughts are. That feels really uncomfortable.”

People have already been arrested for praying silently in England and, with the new law, this may now happen in Scotland.

Some MSPs did raise concerns about the threat to silent prayer and a few suggested helpful amendments to the Bill, including a reasonableness defence and a specific exemption for chaplains who may be caught by the law and criminalised for having conversations about abortion. However, these were either withdrawn or voted down by the Parliament.

Chilling Day

Bishop John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley and spokesperson for the Bishops’ Conference on life issues said:

“This is a chilling day for fundamental freedoms, including our basic right as citizens in Scotland to manifest our beliefs in public, religious or otherwise.

“None of the arguments made were able to get around the basic premise that Police Scotland had never asked for more powers and even told the Parliament they were “really uncomfortable” with the bewildering suggestion of having to police people’s thoughts under the new law.

“The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland condemns all harassment and intimidation of people but continues to note the poor case made that this sort of behaviour was in any way the ethos of Scottish vigils, and endorses the view of Police Scotland, that there are already ample laws in place to deal with such behaviour.

"This law is certainly unnecessary in terms of public order and will disproportionately affect citizens of faith.”

Bishop Keenan added: “While we commend the one MSP who was prepared to recognise and call out the injustice of this draconian law which now criminalises citizen’s thoughts and makes it illegal to pray in certain parts of the country, it is concerning that there was only one.”

Police Scotland will be responsible for enforcing the new law. If an individual or individuals are deemed to be in breach of the law, they could be fined up to £10,000 under summary procedure or to an unlimited amount under solemn procedure.

Scottish Parliament votes to criminalise peaceful prayer vigils

MSPs have voted to criminalise pro-life vigils around hospitals and clinics where abortions are performed.

Despite repeated warnings from the Catholic Parliamentary Office and other pro-life organisations about the negative impact on fundamental rights, including the freedom to pray, 118 MSPs voted in favour of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill, with just one MSP, John Mason, voting against.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has repeatedly condemned all harassment and intimidation of people, including those attending hospitals and other medical facilities.

 


The Conference has also pointed out that laws are already in place to protect people from such unacceptable behaviour.

It is significant that, in written evidence to the Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Police Scotland stated that “existing powers and offences (whether statutory or common law) are sufficient to address any unlawful behaviour in the vicinity of health care premises.”

Some MSPs did raise concerns about the threat to silent prayer and a few suggested helpful amendments to the Bill, including a reasonableness defence and a specific exemption for chaplains who may be caught by the law and criminalised for having conversations about abortion.

However, these were either withdrawn or voted down by the Parliament.

Chilling

Despite Police Scotland raising significant concerns about policing silent prayer the Parliament has pressed ahead with this chilling law.

When asked about the possibility of having to police people’s thoughts, including whether they were silently praying, Superintendent Gerry Corrigan told the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee that policing thought is an area “we would stay clear of”, later adding “I do not think we could go down the road of asking people what they are thinking or what their thoughts are. That feels really uncomfortable.”

People have already been arrested for praying silently in England and, with the passing of this Bill, this may now happen in Scotland.

Furthermore, the Bill gives the government extensive powers to extend restrictions to other buildings or places where “treatments or services relating to abortion services are provided” as protected premises.

This may in time include GP surgeries, sexual health clinics and pharmacies, resulting in potentially hundreds of zones being set up around the country.

It is troubling that the law could also apply to the actions of a person inside their own home and apply to other buildings including churches and schools within the designated zone. For example, placing a pro-life poster in the window of a private home could be considered criminal behaviour.

Below is a list of how MSPs voted on the Bill. Please note that some MSPs were not present for the vote.

Against the Bill;

Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)

For the Bill

Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)

Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)

Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)

Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)

Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)

Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)

Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)

Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)

Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)

Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)

Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)

Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)

Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)

Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)

Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)

Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)

Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)

Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)

Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab)

Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)

Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)

Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)

Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)

Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)

Don, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)

Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)

Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)

Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)

Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)

Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)

Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)

Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)

Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)

Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)

FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)

Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)

Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)

Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)

Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)

Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)

Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)

Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)

Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)

Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)

Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)

Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)

Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)

Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)

Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)

Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)

Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)

Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)

Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)

Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)

Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)

Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)

Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)

Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)

Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)

Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)

MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)

MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)

Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)

Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)

Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)

Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)

Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)

Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)

McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)

McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)

McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)

McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)

McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)

McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)

McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)

McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)

Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)

Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)

Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)

Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)

O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)

Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba)

Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)

Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)

Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)

Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)

Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)

Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)

Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)

Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con)

Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)

Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab)

Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)

Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)

Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)

Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)

Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP)

Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)

Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)

Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)

Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)

Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)

Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)

Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Richard Leonard]

Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)

White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)

Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)

Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)

Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)

Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)

Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)

This article is from the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office.

WATCH: Pro-Life Reflection from Sr Roseann Reddy

Sr Roseann Reddy, of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life (Glasgow) reflects on walking the Way of the Cross with the Lord and reaching out and helping those who are suffering from the effects of abortion.

This reflection was part of our weekly Lent Stations of the Cross. Join us online each week at 7:45pm. Register at bit.ly/lentstations

Buffer Zone Bill will take ‘sledgehammer to civil liberties’

Earlier this week the Daily Record covered the debate set to take place among MSPs on whether to have 'Buffer Zones' around abortion clinics, writes Peter Kearney, of the Scottish Catholic Media Office.

A Bill proposed by Green MSP Gillian MacKay would criminalise any action aimed at persuading someone not to access abortion or to consider an alternative, within 200 metres of premises carrying out abortions.

It would become illegal, to:

The Bill takes a sledgehammer to free speech and demolishes many other civil liberties, including freedom of expression, assembly, thought, conscience and religion.

It could create for the first time in Scottish legal history, a thought crime. You would just need to think negatively about the actions of others to fall foul of the law.

With so much at stake, it’s probably worth asking: what exactly is the problem this terrible Bill is trying to solve?

Well, you might be surprised to learn that no one has ever been arrested outside an abortion facility in Scotland, for breach of the peace, harassment or intimidation.

Police Scotland have stated explicitly that “existing powers and offences are sufficient to address any unlawful behaviour which may arise in the vicinity of a health care premises as a result of such protest.”

They add: “Our engagement with participants...has not resulted in any criminality being identified.”

As the Record’s powerful pictures showed this week, a group of pensioners saying prayers on the pavement isn’t exactly threatening.

Sledgehammer

Since the cops are clear; no crimes are being committed and no new laws are needed, the Bill looks a lot like a sledgehammer being wielded against an invisible nut.

Peaceful protest used to be a cornerstone of our democracy.

Silent vigils have always been seen as harmless and unthreatening.

If we crush that concept now, where will it end?

Silent Peace vigils outside the Trident nuclear base at Faslane have been a fixture for decades, they explicitly attempt to influence those who witness them, but no Scots politician has ever said we should ban them.

That’s because for generations we’ve respected freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of thought conscience and religion as the hard-won human rights they are and wouldn’t dream of erasing them.

Threat to freedoms

The proposed “Buffer Zone” law would at a stroke undo almost a century of settled international human rights law, leaving our courts to determine whether an individual’s thoughts were permissible or not.

Such a threat to universal and fundamental rights is genuinely frightening.

A growing number of people in Scotland are waking up to this real threat to our freedoms and are calling on the Scottish Government to disassociate itself from this damaging and unnecessary proposal.

Our MSPs should steer well clear of unravelling our Human Rights by allowing the Police to protect the peace, the prayerful to pray and the concept of freedom of expression to survive.

Peter Kearney is Director of the Scottish Catholic Media Office. The Daily Record, having commissioned the above article, refused to publish it.

Threat to silent prayer vigils near abortion centres

Catholics are being urged to respond to a proposed bill that would criminalise silent prayer vigils and offers of help near abortion centres.

Gillian Mackay MSP has published the Bill to introduce ‘safe access zones’, or buffer zones, around abortion centres in Scotland.

The offences under the proposed Bill would make it illegal to offer women help and will criminalise prayer, including audible prayer and silent vigils. In England, Catholics have already been arrested for praying silently under similar laws to those being proposed in Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament has asked for evidence and it is important that as many people as possible respond to the Consultation.

Anthony Horan, director of the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office said: "We need people to do two things in response to this proposed Bill: These are:

"To make things as easy as possible for you we have put together an online resource, which provides guidance on engaging with the call for evidence and writing to your MSPs." 

You can access the online resource here. For a PDF version of the briefing on the Bill click here.

Do your bit to help protect the freedom to pray in Scotland.

Free2Pray webinar

A Green Party MSP, supported by the Scottish Government, is proposing a Bill to ban peaceful prayers and offers of help near abortion clinics in Scotland.
It proposes a jail sentence of up to two years for anyone who even silently prays near an abortion clinic. Catholics in England have already been arrested under similar laws there.
It is vital that as many Catholics, and all concerned for freedom of speech and assembly, make a response to this dangerous Bill.
Find out more and how to respond at this webinar which takes place on Tuesday 3 October at 7:45pm. Register here.
If the Government is allowed to decide when and where people can pray this is a serious threat to religious freedom.
If the principle is established in this Bill, it could easily be applied to Corpus Christi processions or other forms of Catholic social justice work if politicians decide they don't agree with what is happening.
It is vital that as many Catholics, and all concerned for freedom of speech and assembly, make a response to this dangerous Bill.
Find out more and how to respond at this webinar.
Free2Pray is organised by the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office. Register here.