Army Vet Convicted for Silent Prayer Near Abortion Clinic in Shocking UK Ruling Silent Prayer Debate

Update 16/10/24 In Dorset, UK, Army Vet Adam Smith-Connor has been found guilty and convicted in a shock ruling from Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court for praying silently near abortion facility. Army veteran and father of two, Adam Smith-Connor, found guilty of breaching censorial “buffer zone” with prayerful thoughts in his mind

“All I did was pray to God” , he said. He is considering an appeal.

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council charged Adam Smith-Connor, a military veteran and father of two, following an interrogation by office on “the nature of his prayers” when he stopped to pray for a few minutes near an abortion facility in November 2022.

Today the Court sentenced Smith-Connor to a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £9,000. A conditional discharge is a type of conviction that means Smith-Connor will only be sentenced if he is convicted of any future offences in the next two years. In its decision, the court reasoned that his prayer amounted to “disapproval of abortion” because at one point his head was seen slightly bowed and his hands were clasped.

Responding to the ruling, Smith-Connor stated:

“Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts – silent thoughts – can be illegal in the United Kingdom. That cannot be right. All I did was pray to God, in the privacy of my own mind – and yet I stand convicted as a criminal?

“I served for 20 years in the army reserves, including a tour in Afghanistan, to protect the fundamental freedoms that this country is built upon. I continue that spirit of service as a health care professional and church volunteer. It troubles me greatly to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thoughtcrimes are now being prosecuted in the UK.”

🔇🙏 Should Silent Prayer Be Banned? This week on Unbelievable, we dive into the complex and controversial issue of abortion clinic buffer zones 🛑. As new legislation takes effect in the 🇬🇧 UK on October 31, 2024, making it illegal to influence someone’s decision to access abortion services—including prayer—within a 150-meter radius, the debate over balancing safety ⚖️ and privacy for vulnerable women with preserving free speech 🗣️ and religious freedom 🙏 has never been more intense.

How do we protect women while upholding individual rights? Join 🎙️ Andy Kind and his guests, Jan MacVarish, a pro-choice advocate, and Lois McLatchie Miller of ADF, a pro-life defender, as they tackle these pressing questions from both sides of the argument.

Don't miss this critical conversation, resonating both in 🇬🇧 the UK and 🇺🇸 the US! And watch related shows and

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