Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, said the charges against Gough were dropped for “insufficient evidence” but the priest was warned that further evidence could be produced. The attorney said this implied that “the entire grueling process could soon restart from the beginning.”
“This is a clear instance of the process becoming the punishment and creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression in the U.K. — a value that this government, incidentally, had promised to champion in their election manifesto,” Igunnubole said. “Nobody should be criminalized for peaceful activities like praying for the state of free speech in our country or having a simple bumper sticker on their car that expresses a belief that ‘unborn lives matter.’ This case demonstrates the far-reaching and illiberal consequences of so-called ‘buffer zones.’”
Though Gough was not praying about abortion outside the abortion clinic, he said work for the post-abortive ministry Rachel’s Vineyard is a large part of his ministry.
“I don’t judge or condemn those who have had abortions — but volunteer my time to work for their healing,” he said.
For the priest, abortion is a very personal matter.
“It’s an issue that means a lot to me because my mom made a bold choice for life when I was a baby,” he added. “I was conceived in the context of severe violence, and she found the grace and strength to fight for us both. So many people thought she should abort me, but by the grace of God, she didn’t, and we’re both so grateful for that today.”
The Archdiocese of Birmingham told CNA that Gough is an assistant priest of the archdiocese.
“He has kept Archbishop Bernard Longley appropriately informed of the matter,” the archdiocese said Feb. 9. “Having received appropriate legal advice and recognizing this is now a matter for the courts, Father Sean, and the archdiocese, await the outcome.”
Several localities in England have implemented buffer zones.
The U.K. Parliament is expected to pass legislation to create buffer zones of about 500 feet around abortion clinics. Those convicted of violating the law could face an unlimited fine, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children reported.
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The Birmingham Archdiocese reiterated the Jan. 27 statement of Bishop John Sherrington, lead bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. His statement emphasized concerns about current and proposed legislation for buffer zones around abortion clinics.
Sherrington said many of the terms of the proposal are “problematic for freedom of religion, expression, and association.” He noted the risk that the measures “constitute discrimination and disproportionately have an impact on people of religious faith.” He warned that the measures raise questions about state powers over the individual in a free society.
“All harassment and intimidation of women is to be condemned,” the bishop said. He cited a 2018 Home Office review that said sufficient laws are in place “to protect women from such unacceptable behavior.”
Kevin J. Jones is a senior staff writer with Catholic News Agency. He was a recipient of a 2014 Catholic Relief Services’ Egan Journalism Fellowship.