Scotland’s bishops have strongly criticized a new law creating “buffer zones” around abortion clinics, arguing it unduly limits free speech, expression, and religious freedom in ways that should alarm everyone.
The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act 2024 establishes zones extending up to 200 meters (approximately 656 feet) around 30 sites across Scotland. According to the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, any actions perceived as attempting to “influence” abortion decisions within these areas could lead to criminal charges. In a January 6 statement, the bishops called the measure “disproportionate and undemocratic,” stressing that while the Church opposes harassment or intimidation, the law’s intent goes far beyond that.
The Scottish government has identified potential violations, including silent vigils, distributing leaflets, religious preaching, or approaching individuals to dissuade them from seeking abortion services.The bishops expressed dismay that the Christmas season witnessed the first charge under this law, undermining Scotland’s dedication to freedom of expression and conscience. In December 2025, 74-year-old Rose Docherty faced charges after her February 2025 arrest in Glasgow, where she stood silently outside Queen Elizabeth University Hospital holding a sign reading: “Coercion is a crime; here to talk, only if you want.”
Highlighting the law’s troubling reach, the bishops noted it could criminalize someone standing alone in a zone offering silent pro-life prayers, even if no outward protest is visible. The legislation also applies to private residences within zones, potentially making a pro-life poster in a window, an overheard conversation, or a prayer by a window subject to penalties. When questioned about whether praying near a window in one’s home could be an offense, Scottish Green Party MSP Gillian Mackay, who led the bill, responded: “That depends on who’s passing the window.” Scotland’s police have voiced concerns, with Superintendent Gerry Corrigan telling Parliament that monitoring thoughts is something they “would stay clear of,” adding: “I do not think we could go down the road of asking people what they are thinking or what their thoughts are.”
The bishops warned that the law, intended to protect choice, might instead suppress one perspective, denying women in crisis pregnancies access to supportive conversations or organizations offering alternatives. Efforts by some lawmakers to soften the law—such as adding a “reasonableness defense” or exemptions for chaplains in pastoral discussions—were all rejected or withdrawn.
The bishops affirmed their support for those driven by conscience and compassion to advocate for life, declaring: “It cannot be a crime to give our voice and our prayers to the unborn.” Reflecting on the Christmas and Epiphany season, they added: “As we look to the child in the manger this Christmas and Epiphany, we are reminded that babies do not have a voice of their own. It is a shame that the state has now also curtailed the voices of ordinary citizens who advocate for them within its borders.”