Petition to: Suella Bravermann
Praying for free speech should not be criminalised
Praying for free speech should not be criminalised
Are Priests still allowed to pray on the streets of Britain?
Father Sean Gough, a Catholic priest, is facing a legal battle after he was charged for breaching a censorship zone by silently praying, in addition to holding a sign with the words “praying for free speech,” near a closed abortion facility in Birmingham.
A second charge related to parking his car, with an “unborn lives matter” bumper sticker, within the same area.
The area surrounding the facility has been covered by a local Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), in force since November, which prohibits prayer, distributing information about pregnancy help services, and other activities considered to constitute “protest”.
The Crown Prosecution Service has since dropped the charges against Father Gough, but made clear that they could be reinstated. Like Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, Father Gough has stated his intentionto pursue a clear verdict on his charges in court, in order to clear his name.
Nobody should be arrested for peaceful expression – least of all on a bumper sticker. It isn’t criminal to pray for free speech, which is under pressure in our country.
We’re backing Fr Sean all the way. Will you join us?
Westminster are considering rolling out these censorship zones, which have seen individuals like Fr Sean and Isabel-Vaughan-Spruce face criminal charges for their prayers.
Nobody should be criminalised for their thoughts. These zones would also prohibit anyone from offering help services to women in crisis pregnancies. Those found to do so could face prison for up to two years.
We all condemn the harassment of women in any circumstances. According to a Home Office Review in 2018, instances of harassment outside of abortion facilities are rare, and police already have the powers to deal with such situations appropriately. The most common activities outside abortion facilities are either praying, or offering leaflets about charitable help available for women who would like to avoid abortion if they had another option. Neither of these activities should be criminal.
There is no evidence to suggest any change in circumstances since the review in 2018. All law should be evidence-based. Censorship zones would be highly disproportionate to the reality of the situation.
We're asking the Home Secretary to at least hold another review before imposing such sweeping censorial measures. Offers of help and simple prayer should never be banned. It's important that the government know what's really going on.
Join us in calling for a just and fair approach to law-making. Add you name!
You can send a message of support to Fr. Sean at adf.uk/support-fr-sean
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Petition to: Suella Bravermann
Dear Suella,
As you know, parliament is poised to pass legislation that would place national censorship zones or “buffer zones” around abortion facilities across England and Wales.
News has just broken about the case of Father Sean Geogh. He is facing a legal battle because he prayed silently, and held a sign reading “praying for free speech”, in a censorship zone around an abortion facility in Birmingham.
Police also charged him for parking his car in the censorship zone with a permanent bumper sticker on it reading “unborn lives matter”.
This is the very same area in which Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for silently praying in before Christmas.
Father Sean and Isabel are not criminals for holding beliefs. A mere bumper sticker, a prayer about free speech, should never be grounds for a criminal trial in Great Britain.
But under legislation being considered in parliament right now, this could become the norm.
In their election manifesto, the Conservative Party promised to champion freedom of expression at home and abroad. But under the leadership of this government, citizens may, for the first time, become criminalised for their peaceful expression of beliefs on a bumper sticker; for their silent prayers; or if they simply offer help to a woman who might want it.
Clause 9 of the Public Order Bill would categorise all these lawful activities as “influence”, making them punishable with a jail sentence of up to two years.
We all condemn the harassment of women in any circumstances. According to a Home Office Review in 2018, instances of harassment outside of abortion facilities are rare, and police already have the powers to deal with such situations appropriately. The most common activities outside abortion facilities are either praying, or offering leaflets about charitable help available for women who would like to avoid abortion if they had another option. Neither of these activities should be criminal.
There is no evidence to suggest any change in circumstances since the review in 2018. All law should be evidence-based.
We, the undersigned, therefore ask you to protect freedom of speech. Please protect human rights, and commission a review into pro-life activity outside abortion facilities before issuing blanket bans.
Petition to: Suella Bravermann
Dear Suella,
As you know, parliament is poised to pass legislation that would place national censorship zones or “buffer zones” around abortion facilities across England and Wales.
News has just broken about the case of Father Sean Geogh. He is facing a legal battle because he prayed silently, and held a sign reading “praying for free speech”, in a censorship zone around an abortion facility in Birmingham.
Police also charged him for parking his car in the censorship zone with a permanent bumper sticker on it reading “unborn lives matter”.
This is the very same area in which Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for silently praying in before Christmas.
Father Sean and Isabel are not criminals for holding beliefs. A mere bumper sticker, a prayer about free speech, should never be grounds for a criminal trial in Great Britain.
But under legislation being considered in parliament right now, this could become the norm.
In their election manifesto, the Conservative Party promised to champion freedom of expression at home and abroad. But under the leadership of this government, citizens may, for the first time, become criminalised for their peaceful expression of beliefs on a bumper sticker; for their silent prayers; or if they simply offer help to a woman who might want it.
Clause 9 of the Public Order Bill would categorise all these lawful activities as “influence”, making them punishable with a jail sentence of up to two years.
We all condemn the harassment of women in any circumstances. According to a Home Office Review in 2018, instances of harassment outside of abortion facilities are rare, and police already have the powers to deal with such situations appropriately. The most common activities outside abortion facilities are either praying, or offering leaflets about charitable help available for women who would like to avoid abortion if they had another option. Neither of these activities should be criminal.
There is no evidence to suggest any change in circumstances since the review in 2018. All law should be evidence-based.
We, the undersigned, therefore ask you to protect freedom of speech. Please protect human rights, and commission a review into pro-life activity outside abortion facilities before issuing blanket bans.
