Freedom to Pray Remains under Threat in the U.K.

A man of God, Father Sean Gough prays for a living. That’s the life of a Catholic priest. A resident of Birmingham, England, he often prays, silently, as he makes his way about town. He prays for those around him, and for his country too. Now, in line with his long-term ministry of support for pregnant women, he is under fire for praying in silence on the street near a closed abortion facility.

Following the viral arrest of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, the world is no stranger to the absurdity of silent-prayer prosecution in the U.K. After Isabel came Adam Smith-Connor, the army veteran fined for silent prayer as well. Prayer prosecution is a very real occurrence in today’s England.

The assault on prayer comes by way of local “buffer zone” ordinances banning a host of activities, including silent prayer, in the vicinity of abortion facilities. And right now, the U.K. Parliament is debating the nationwide rollout of these oppressive censorship zones.

Even from across the pond, it is apparent that free speech, and even free thought, are under attack in the U.K. like never before. In the areas where “buffer zone” orders are currently in force under “Public Spaces Protection Orders,” the consequences for fundamental freedoms have been egregious. Just look at the legal ordeals that have befallen Adam, Isabel, and now Father Sean. Adam awaits the repercussions of his fine. Both Father Sean and Isabel were criminally charged for silent prayer, only to recently have their charges dropped. But authorities have made clear that they could be reinstated.

While the fate of the national bill remains in flux, what is clear is that censorship zones generate mass legal uncertainty. The facts of Father Sean’s case highlight the extent to which dangerous legal ambiguities abound. To dispel any doubt about that for which he was praying, Father Sean held a sign with the words “praying for free speech.” He then proceeded to pray for the state of free speech, so under attack in his country, on the street near an abortion facility in his hometown of Birmingham. He made sure to be there outside the facility’s working hours, thereby precluding the possibility that he could be charged with harassment of any sort. Father Sean was simply there to pray.

The Birmingham censorship-zone order, in force since November — and the same zone under which Isabel was arrested — prohibits prayer, distributing information about pregnancy-help services, and other activities considered to constitute “protest.” As a consequence, Father Sean was charged with violating the local abortion facility’s “buffer zone.” Notably, his other violation came by way of parking his car in the zone with a visible “unborn lives matter” bumper sticker. The catch? Per his sign, Father Sean was there to pray for free speech. His case thus marks the first where prayer that is not related to abortion, but to another matter entirely, has led to criminalization.

What’s next for free speech, and free thought, in the U.K.? Father Sean’s case has opened the possibility to being prosecuted for lifting literally any thought up to God, regardless of the subject matter, if you do so in a prohibited zone. To the naysayers that say: “Father Sean wasn’t arrested for praying, he was arrested for violating the terms of the zone,” let’s be clear: He was charged with violating an order that bans prayer. Praying people are of the mind that God hears our thoughts everywhere. In a democratic society, there can exist no “zones” where peaceful prayer is illegal.

Along with Isabel, Father Sean has stated his intention to pursue a clear verdict on his charges in court. They both await a hearing date. Fundamental freedoms in the U.K. remain severely imperiled so long as censorship zones persist. While the battle rages on in Parliament, the next step in the fight against thought crimes is to obtain the necessary clarity in court to quell the stifling uncertainty surrounding prayer prosecution in the U.K.