Town councillors will keep praying
Wednesday 12th May 2010, 10:06AM BST.
Councillors in a Shropshire town have thrown out a controversial attempt to scrap the saying of prayers before their meetings.
The Anglican Bishop of Shrewsbury has welcomed last night’s decision by Wellington Town Council to continue with the tradition.
He said: “The saying of prayers before meetings is an integral part of the British system of government.”
Independent Wellington Town Council member Councillor Pat McCarthy wanted to see compulsory prayers at the start of meetings of the full council replaced by a “pre-meeting” where prayers would be said but attendance was voluntary. He claimed compulsory Christian prayers discriminated against atheists and people of other faiths.
His motion to that effect was rejected by all of his council colleagues, expect two who abstained. A debate on the issue was ruled out.
Bishop of Shrewsbury The Right Reverend Mark Rylands said he fully supported the council members in continuing to offer prayers before meetings.
He added: “Attendance is completely voluntary and no-one is forced to actively participate.”
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What a terrible reflection on Wellington Town Council. They seemed locked in the past. They should be focused on regenerating the town and attracting new business and tourism. This old fashioned approach explains why only 30% voted in the town council elections and only 2 people attended the council agm. Could you imagine Marks and Spencer board meetings having prayers as part of the meeting!!!
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So much for separation of church and state huh?
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Merk, in Englands we DO have a state reliugion. You must have confused England with a state in America.
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“The saying of prayers before meetings is an integral part of the British system of government.”
I certainly hope it is not. Religion and politics should not mix.
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Could I just point out that the “controversial attempt to scrap the saying of prayers before their meetings” was nothing of the kind – simply a proposal that prayers be kept separate from the formal business of the council’s meetings.
This was reported correctly in the Star last week.
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Firstly, Nick – I hardly think that the saying of prayers at council meetings effects the extent to which councillors are able to ‘focus’ on regeneration, business and tourism – its not like they’re sitting there in pious contemplation for 20 minutes or something.
Secondly, Merk – ‘so much for separation of church and state’ – who said they WERE separated? Maybe they should be, but in the UK they’re not. Eg the Queen is head of state and head of the Church of England, and bishops sit in the House of Lords. I’m not saying that’s healthy or not, but its how the system currently works, so Wellington Town Council is not doing anything unconventional.
As an aethiest, I take religious practices as inoffensive traditions and customs, like singing hymns or celebrating religious festivals. Why must so many aethiests be self-righteous about religion and seek to ghettoise it? Surely things like this are harmless.
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Yet it has been the aim of the Commons to rid the Lords of it’s bishops etc, this perhaps might happen under a new Government.
I’m not an atheist and believe people have the right to practice (or not) whatever religion they want. I just don’t think that prayers are a relevant part of a formal Council meeting.
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Merk
The point is that Council meetings need to be business like and inclusive. Why do you think the Council is made up of mature middle aged people aged 60+ and does not include younger people with forward thinking views? Rituals like prayers at Council meetings does nothing to encourage people to participate in local democracy. The Council needs to modernised its ways of working.
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# Nick
Completely agree with your comment.
Religion should be treated as a hobby that some people choose to indulge in. :p
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“Hello. I’m the new boy! I’ll change everything! And if you don’t like it, I’ll scream and scream until YOU are sick!”
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Matt, some of us are sick of YOU already.
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