Isabel Vaughan-Spruce and Adam Smith-Connor have something in common. It is not just their Christian faith, nor their opposition to abortion, nor their double-barrelled names. It is that they have been (or are being) prosecuted for praying, silently, near to an abortion clinic.
One might have thought that in our secular and liberal society, the authorities would have responded to such activity with a shrug of the shoulders, a ‘So what?’ – before moving on to more pressing matters. ‘She’s talking to her imaginary friend in the sky. Leave her to it.’
Who cares if a man in a shapeless jumper stands, eyes closed, looking earnest, near to an abortion clinic, thinking himself to be talking to God about what is going on in there? Whatever. Each to his own. At least he’s not giving sweets to 7-year-old girls. Be thankful for small mercies and let him be. But alas, it seems he must be prosecuted for what was going on in his head.
