In February 2011, the National Secular Society won a legal challenge against prayers said at meetings of Bideford Town Council. Prayers at council meetings hardly reflects how most people go about their business, and it re-affirms a link between organised religion and government that needs to be broken. Religion is a matter for the individual, not the state or the council. Senior council officers are expected to join in too, and they don't even get a say in the matter.Īnd so prayers continue to be said year in year out in over half the councils in the country, while fewer and fewer councillors have any religious faith at all. They haven`t come across it in other walks of life, in their workplace or at social occasions, so why in the council chamber? It might not be the most important issue they face on election, and there will be a feeling of not wishing to ruffle feathers with the wise old birds who have been councillors since the dawn of time. Newly elected councillors are surprised that the first formal thing they are asked to do after signing the acceptance of office is to stand up at the beginning of their first council meeting and listen to a cleric. They say they do it as a tradition, but they rarely ask anyone, including their own councillors, if it should continue. Many Councils still include a formal session of prayers at the beginning of their council meetings.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |