The city councils of at least three cities in Spain have stopped a pro-life campaign launched by the Catholic Association of Propogandists.
These municipalities said that their publicity material, which included the slogan “Praying before an abortion clinic is great,” pressured women going to clinics.
The censorship has come as a shock to experts working in information law, such as Professor Leopoldo Abad.
LEOPOLDO ABAD
Professor of Constitutional Law, CEU University (Spain)
'What they are accusing the advertisement of is about what is behind the ban, which is an ideology, in this case a contrary ideology. What I believe this is about is leaving behind free discussion, and I am in favor of free discussion, one of the keys of democratic systems is that all parties can express themselves, as long as they do not offend, which I think this campaign was in no way offensive.'
The initiative shined light on the more than 99,000 abortions performed each year in Spain, as well as a new law that aims to prevent demonstrations in front of clinics. Professor Leopoldo Abad considers it an attack on freedom of expression.
LEOPOLDO ABAD
Professor of Constitutional Law, CEU University (Spain)
'If I pray in front of an abortion clinic, really what I am doing is a peaceful manifestation—and let's not forget, “peaceful”—of my ideology. That is something that any self-respecting democracy must respect. If someone feels offended by that, it implies intolerance towards different ideas, which is what is behind all this.'
The Catholic Association of Propagandists is placing this initiative in another campaign, titled 'Canceled,' in which they give a voice to positions silenced by political correctness.
AO
TR: JM
