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Woman arrested by English police for silent prayer near abortion facility
Catholic News Agency ^ | 12/21/2022 | Charlotte Evans

Posted on 12/22/2022 2:46:59 PM PST by simpson96

A pro-life volunteer has been arrested and charged after silently praying outside an abortion facility in Birmingham, U.K.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, the director of March for Life UK, was arrested on Dec.6 and charged on Dec. 15 with four counts of breaking a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

A PSPO is intended to stop antisocial behavior. Police were responding to a complaint from a member of the public who believed that Vaughan-Spruce was praying silently.

As part of her bail conditions, restrictions have been placed on her participating in public prayer. Another requirement of her bail, later dropped, banned her from contacting a local priest involved in pro-life work.

Vaughan-Spruce was carrying no placards or signs. After her arrest, she was shown pictures of herself quietly standing in the vicinity of the abortion clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham.

She had been spotted near the clinic three times, and when asked about these occasions, she explained that she might have been praying, but she may also have been thinking about other things. Her thoughts, she explained, were all peaceful and not worthy of being criminalized.

Speaking about her work, Vaughan-Spruce said: “I have devoted much of my life to supporting women in crisis pregnancies with everything that they need to make an empowered choice for motherhood.”

“My faith is a central part of who I am, so sometimes I’ll stand or walk near an abortion facility and pray about this issue. This is something I’ve done pretty much every week for around the last 20 years of my life.”(snip)

Clause 9 of the bill currently under debate in the U.K. Parliament would prevent people from “influencing,” “advising,” “persuading,” “informing,” “occupying space,” or even “expressing opinion” near an abortion clinic.

A two-year prison sentence could be incurred for failure to adhere to the proposed rules.


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1 posted on 12/22/2022 2:46:59 PM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

This is just outright Immoral.


2 posted on 12/22/2022 2:48:56 PM PST by AlmaKing
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To: AlmaKing

Actually evil. She literally isn’t hurting or bothering anyone.


3 posted on 12/22/2022 2:50:06 PM PST by Bruce Campbells Chin ( )
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To: simpson96

Would they do this to a muslim?

My guess is NO.


4 posted on 12/22/2022 2:51:24 PM PST by skeeter
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To: simpson96

Why haven’t 87 congregations from nearby churches taken to the streets infront of the court and by these clinics?

Fight back, people!


5 posted on 12/22/2022 2:52:15 PM PST by TheWriterTX (Trust not in earthly princes....!)
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To: AlmaKing

Hatred of God and anyone who worships Him is grpwing every day. satan is having his brief time, but it will end.


6 posted on 12/22/2022 2:52:15 PM PST by beethovenfan (The REAL Great Reset will be when Jesus returns. )
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To: Bruce Campbells Chin
" She literally isn’t hurting or bothering anyone."

Not even displaying anything, such as a Bible, cross, or rosary. Just standing there.

7 posted on 12/22/2022 2:52:18 PM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

Clause 9 of the bill currently under debate in the U.K. Parliament would prevent people from “influencing,” “advising,” “persuading,” “informing,” “occupying space,” or even “expressing opinion” near an abortion clinic.

A two-year prison sentence could be incurred for failure to adhere to the proposed rules.

“Occupying space” is now a crime.


8 posted on 12/22/2022 2:52:28 PM PST by Flick Lives (Cui bono)
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To: simpson96

Ah, I see why.

They are subjects, not citizens.


9 posted on 12/22/2022 2:53:21 PM PST by TheWriterTX (Trust not in earthly princes....!)
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To: beethovenfan

“growing” !!


10 posted on 12/22/2022 2:53:23 PM PST by beethovenfan (The REAL Great Reset will be when Jesus returns. )
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To: simpson96

How terrifying must prayer be to demons, that the silent communication between a woman and God must be stopped by any means.


11 posted on 12/22/2022 2:53:23 PM PST by OpusatFR
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To: simpson96

God bless her


12 posted on 12/22/2022 2:53:35 PM PST by combat_boots ( )
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To: OpusatFR
Police were responding to a complaint from a member of the public who believed that Vaughan-Spruce was praying silently.

WOW.

13 posted on 12/22/2022 2:53:49 PM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

Is she finally in jail? I feel safe now. I’ve been hiding in my basement with a cricket bat terrified of the danger she poses.


14 posted on 12/22/2022 2:54:16 PM PST by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
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To: simpson96

How do you access an abortion clinic without “occupying space” near it?


15 posted on 12/22/2022 2:59:28 PM PST by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
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To: simpson96
They've criminalized silent prayer. Saw the video of the arrest, there's literally nothing offensive in any sane sense.

"No, honest officer, I was just nodding off for a moment! Don't arrest me!"

Our greatest threats are not in Pyongyang or Beijing or Moscow or Tehran. They are in Washington and London and Brussels, and the institutional oligarchies backing them. And they need to be dealt with.

16 posted on 12/22/2022 3:01:54 PM PST by EnderWiggin1970
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To: AlmaKing

England is lost to the muzzies. God help them because no one else can.


17 posted on 12/22/2022 3:04:52 PM PST by jimbug
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To: AlmaKing

I’m glad I’m 90.


18 posted on 12/22/2022 3:05:41 PM PST by Don Corleone (leave the gun, take the canolis)
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To: AppyPappy

You better watch it. She’ll get a tablet and internet access in prison. She’ll hunt you down and say a prayer in your name.


19 posted on 12/22/2022 3:07:22 PM PST by ConservativeInPA (Stupidly is a moral problem, not an intellectual problem. )
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To: TheWriterTX
Because there aren't any congregations? Last time I was in England it seemed like most churches were museums.
20 posted on 12/22/2022 3:07:36 PM PST by Varda
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