Carrying a Bible or praying at a patient's bedside in Northern Ireland hospitals may be considered a crime under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023, according to recent police guidance. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) issued a response on July 2 to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, clarifying the law's implications for hospital clergy and religious ministry. The law prohibits actions that could influence, prevent access, or cause distress to individuals within 100 meters of facilities where abortions are performed.
The PSNI stated that while the law does not affect most hospital chaplains or pastors in their daily work, it does not exempt clergy from liability. Activities such as carrying Bibles, reading Scripture, or praying with patients could be deemed unlawful if they occur within a protected zone and are perceived as influencing or distressing others nearby. The PSNI emphasized that the intention behind such activities does not provide legal protection.
Retired pastor Clive Johnston was recently convicted and fined for preaching near a hospital where abortions are performed, raising concerns among religious leaders about the implications of the law for ministry in hospital settings. Pastor Jonathan Campbell expressed that the guidance has left U.K. Christians uncertain about how to practice their faith without violating the law. He called for clarification from the U.K. government to ensure that Christians can express their faith freely in hospitals.
The PSNI clarified that while individuals have rights to freedom of thought and expression, these rights must be balanced against the protections provided by the law. The police service is not aiming to regulate religion or lawful pastoral care, but must assess whether conduct within buffer zones constitutes criminal behavior.
Ciarán Kelly from The Christian Institute criticized the law's interpretation, suggesting it threatens ordinary Christian ministry in hospitals. He noted that vague wording in the law could lead to a chilling effect on spiritual care for patients. The U.S. State Department has also expressed concern over the U.K.'s handling of buffer zone laws, indicating that it is monitoring related cases as potential violations of free speech and religious liberty.