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Council may have to abandon prayers following court case
IMPLICATIONS of a High Court ruling that prayers at council meetings are ‘unlawful’ are being investigated by Horsham District Council.
The council has a prayer from a guest or councillor at the start of each full council meeting.
However, a national test cast to outlaw the practice was won last week by the National Secular Society and an atheist councillor.
They challenged Bideford town council in Devon having prayers on meeting agendas.
The Bideford councillor, a non-believer, contacted the society, which launched a legal challenge in July 2010.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Friday Mr Justice Ouseley, sitting in London, ruled: “The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a council is not lawful under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue.’’
Society lawyers argued the prayers ‘indirectly discriminated against’ council members who were not religious, in breach of human rights laws but the case was won on local government legislation.
A spokesperson for Horsham District Council said: “We’re looking into the implications of the outcome of the ruling.
“No decision has yet been made as to how this will affect Horsham District Council’s procedures.”
According to the Telegraph, Rt Revd Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter, urged his local councils to use a ‘loophole’ in the decision.
“It [the High Court decision] merely says that the 1972 Local Government Act does not give a statutory power to local authorities to say prayers within a council meeting,” he said.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
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aclaridge
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:31 PMThe saying of prayers at council meetings is an archaic ritual. It symbolises a conservative and outmoded form of politics descended from the feudal roots of our society. These ancient links can and should be broken in a modern society that often shuns religious myths (that, in fact, we are often educated to reject). In order for one to truly integrate and take part in the decision-making processes of most local townvillage communities, an involvement with the church (and the pub) is usually required. Perhaps new structures need to be devised to recreate moral and humane centres for our communities? Could smaller communities be strengthened with the addition of elected mayors as is so successful in France? Food for thought...
andrewedmondson
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:27 AMUnfortunately, Eric Pickles, Communities Secretary, has unilaterally overturned the ruling by making an addition to the Localism Bill. Not only that, he has fast tracked it ahead of the Localism Bill which doesn't come into force until April! Desperate measures from an insecure man. This is a frightening abuse of power and will have implications for other groups considering legal action in pursuit of equality. In the ruling, the judge said "I do not think that ... the religious views of one group of Councillors, however sincere or large in number, [should] exclude or, even to a modest extent, to impose burdens on or even to mark out those who do not share their [religious] views and do not wish to participate in their expression of them. They are all equally elected Councillors." This sums up the spirit of the decision and I hope that Horsham DC will act accordingly. If prayers are held, they should be done so away from the council chamber, in order not to "mark out non-Christians" just before a secular meeting.
Normalnorris
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 09:45 PMAmen to that!
Elaine Ansell
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 05:58 PMPrayers should not be part of council meetings. These are not religious meetings. They are to discuss council business. Let people who have a religious conviction say their prayers before the alloted time for the meeting. All local government and national business in parliament should be secular. It is time for this government to realise we are not a Christian country constitutioally and that faith matters should be separate from the secular business of the state. The same should go for education. State education should be secular. not run by faith organisations. Parents have plenty of time outside of school hours in which to teach indoctrinate their children about their faith.
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