Court rules out council meeting prayers (From Oxford Mail)
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Court rules out council meeting prayers
11:00am Saturday 11th February 2012 in News
AN Atheist councillor has welcomed a court ruling banning prayers at council meetings.
Liberal Democrat Jerry Patterson leaves Vale of White Horse District Council meetings when the Christian prayers are said.
Yesterday the High Court ruled the practice was unlawful under the Local Government Act 1972, as it was not necessary and could be divisive.
Mr Patterson, who represents Kennington and South Hinksey ward, said: “I objected to having it as a formal part of the meeting. It shouldn’t be forced on people who don’t share these views. I resent having to leave the meeting.”
He said prayers should be held in a separate room prior to the start of meetings.
The council is the only authority of its kind in the county to hold Christian prayers before every full council meeting.
Last May members voted to continue the custom. Matthew Barber, the Conservative leader of the council, said it would be a shame if prayers had to end.
He said: “It’s not compulsory for everybody and I think it should be for the council to decide whether it continues with prayers.”
However, Dr Evan Harris, the former Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: “It’s not the council’s business to invoke the help of one particular, or any, deity.”
The National Secular Society took the case to the High Court, claiming prayers at town council meetings in Bideford, Devon, made non-believers and followers of other faiths feel uncomfortable.
Yesterday, David Buckle, the council’s chief executive, said: “We will take time to consider the implications of this verdict and make a decision in due course.”
Abingdon Town Council holds prayers at every full council meeting. Deputy town clerk Sandra Hill said: “It would be best for each council to look at the issue and decide democratically what to do.”
Comments(6)
Darkforbid
says...
1:56pm Sun 12 Feb 12
attend church weddings and
funerals?┄
Why wonder, free food and drink so they do.
But i wonder who well a majority law, of protection from minority interests would go down.
mrploppy
says...
8:42am Mon 13 Feb 12
Love the way they think non believers should bow their heads, what about believers not bowing their heads out of respect for non believers?
Religion is a personal thing and should remain so, if they want to pray before meetings fine but please don't make it official and force others to endure it as well.
P.S. what has this to do with foreign influences and what are they?
Pottermouth
says...
10:05am Mon 13 Feb 12
Does that mean I can take David Cameron to court? The majority (kind of) voted him in, but I certainly didn't and it wasn't an outcome I deem acceptable, so I demand that he is removed from his position.
If the minority are so bothered about the prayers dont participate in them. I often have to sit in a pub and hear people talk rubbish, it doesnt mean I have to join in.
mrploppy
says...
8:57pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Pottermouth wrote:A majority vote for an illegal action doesn't make it any more legal. What about the tyranny of the majority?
Isn't this a bit pointless, they voted on it and the majority ruled to keep the prayers, and because someone got a bit uptight they took it to court?
Does that mean I can take David Cameron to court? The majority (kind of) voted him in, but I certainly didn't and it wasn't an outcome I deem acceptable, so I demand that he is removed from his position.
If the minority are so bothered about the prayers dont participate in them. I often have to sit in a pub and hear people talk rubbish, it doesnt mean I have to join in.
When you sit in a pub you do so for leisure, it involves no taxpayers money (including from non Christians), no separation of religion and state and no obligation to attend. All in all a pretty weak analogy I'm afraid.
Pottermouth
says...
4:18pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Most things in cabinet meetings are divisive.
If the majority had ruled to pray in a different religion, I would still be unfazed, I just think it's a bit pathetic that one person is kicking up such a fuss, in some ways he is now imposing his own beliefs.
I mean come on, whats next, children arnt allowed to pray at school because it mind offend the children of different religions, get them started on political correctness early?
I'm not even religious. I just think this is a case of one guy having a tantrum, arrangments were made, he wasn't forced to pray, he could go get a coffee why the rest did.
I think it also needs to be looked at how they pray. do they just bow their heads and pray to their own deity or do they chant prayers? I personally think it would be the former, once again no impact on anyone.
Political correctness is ruining this country, along with all the busybodies who are trying to enforce it.
GrumpyMike says...
12:29pm Sun 12 Feb 12
The British way of life is being eroded by these trendies and other foreign influencies.
I am no longer a believer, but was brought up a Christian.
All non-believers need do, is bow their heads shut their eyes and think of other things.
I wonder if these same people attend church weddings and funerals ?