Scottish lawmaker behind buffer zone law admits JD Vance is right, praying in one’s home can be illegal

March 11, 2025

Vice President JD Vance has been vindicated after the member of the Scottish Parliament who is behind abortion buffer zones has admitted that praying in one’s home could be a breach of law just as Vance had claimed in a speech to European leaders.

The Christian Post reports that Gillian McKay, the MSP behind the abortion buffer zone law, has conceded that someone praying near a window in their home could be in violation of the law, depending “on who’s passing [by] the window.”

Scotland’s abortion buffer zones prohibit causing perceived distress to anyone seeking access to abortion facilities and citizens living within those zones were notified by letter that private prayer could constitute a breach of the law.

The text from one of the letters sent to residents stated, “In general, the offences apply in public places within the Safe Access Zones. However, activities in a private place (such as a house) … could be an offence if they can be seen or heard within the Zone and are done intentionally or recklessly.”

Vance had been accused of spreading “misinformation” when he raised concerns about the buffer zones being used to discriminate against Christians in a speech to European leaders in Munich earlier this year.

Lois McLatchie Miller, who is a Scottish spokesperson for the Christian organisation ADF International, said the buffer zone law is fundamentally flawed because it undermines freedom of speech, thought and religion.

According to the Christian Post, Miller pointed out that “Gillian Mackay confirmed that ‘performative’ prayer could be a crime, ‘depending on who is passing by the window.’ The accusation of prayer being ‘performative’ rather than genuine lies in the eye of the beholder.”

Miller said, “JD Vance was right to raise concerns — this law is an illiberal travesty.” 

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