Council chairman ‘disgusted’ by ban on prayers at meetings
PRAYERS will no longer be held at full meetings of South Kesteven District Council following a judge’s ruling.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled that prayers are not lawful under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 following a complaint from an atheist councillor about prayers being held during council meetings by a council in Devon.
Chairman of SKDC Mike Cook branded the ruling “absolutely ridiculous” this week. He said: “In my view, we live in a Christian society and therefore we should have Christian practices.”
Coun Cook said the traditional prayers held at the opening of full council meetings had received the backing of other councillors - including non-Christians.
Coun Cook said: “I’ve had support from a Hindu councillor and an ex-councillor who is a Muslim. Both agreed that it is shame certain members object to prayers being said before the council meeting.”
The ruling has been appealed but Coun Cook fears it could encourage further objections.
He said: “Will they extend it to the singing of the national anthem? Will we be allowed to say God save the Queen?
“Where will it all end?”
Following the ruling, Coun Cook plans to hold prayers before the formal opening of future full council meetings. The next full council meeting will be held on March 1.
Labour councillor for SKDC Rob Shorrock, who describes himself as a humanist and an atheist, had previously called for the council prayers to be scrapped. He said: “I would not expect myself or people who hold my beliefs to have a similar opportunity at council to spout on about why God doesn’t exist and the beauty of evolution. It’s just not appropriate to the business of council. The business of council should be purely secular.”
But Coun Shorrock supports Coun Cook’s plan to hold prayers 15 minutes before the meeting begins.
Coun Shorrock said: “I totally believe in religious freedom so people can worship if they want to and who they want to. If they want to organise that within council facilities and before the council meeting that’s up to them and I’m fine with that. No problem whatsoever. But it shouldn’t be forced, through a council meeting, on councillors who do not follow the Christian faith or have other religious views.”
Coun Shorrock has questioned prayers before meetings at SKDC for years as it is not part of the council constitution or mentioned in the agenda for meetings.
He said: “Councillors can’t turn around and say ‘shameful’ and ‘disgusting’ - words that have been used against me - when it is clearly against the constitution and not on the agenda.”
l Should prayers be allowed? Or should religion be kept out of council meetings? Email us: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
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robshorrock
Monday, March 5, 2012 at 02:45 PMJust to let you know that the last full council meeting took place last Thursday. There was some kind of prayer service 15 minutes before the start of the meeting for those that wanted to go. The council meeting went ahead and it was not raised as an issue once. I hope this is the best solution. I have no issue with people praying in their own time - my resistance is to making this part of the statutory business of what we do, as I share the view with most commentators here that religion should be separate from government. Cllr Rob Shorrock
DeepnGreen
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:24 PMAs a non-Conformist I have watched this very sudden seperation of Church and State with amusement and bemusement. The next logical step to defend 'human rights' must be to ban the singing of 'God Save the Queen' at public events as the words represent a prayer. Now that all these atheists have been released from the obligation to pray, will they perhaps allow themselves a few moments for meditation and reflection before meetings? Perhaps the same time could be used by the faithful to offer silent prayers?
Ann Gree
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 11:44 AMWell said Cllr Shorrock. Religion of any kind has no business with politics or the way the country is governed. Those Cllrs who wish to pray can still do so,either privately or in a group before they enter the Council chamber. They should not force their beliefs on to those who do not share them. Sadly many christians seem to have a problem with understanding that although we are, in their words 'a christian country', a large percentage of the population do not actually buy into this ideology. Having a faith does not make you a good person, nor more capable of making well thought out balanced decisions. Oh and I doubt there will be a judgment to ban the singing of God Save The Queen as she actually exists.
Derek Walsh
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:24 PMThe headline is misleading. There has been no ban on prayer. There has been a ban on *forced* prayer. Nobody should be forced to perform an act of worship in order to do their job, nor indeed, to be required to make a religious declaration by opting out. The ruling seems perfectly fair and respectful to all. As in any other job, those who wish to do so may pray or meditate or think about Batman in their own time.
Cos_I_Said_So_Alright!
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:40 PMI completely agree with coun. Shorrock, the important part is having the freedom of choice to worship or not. Prayer plays no part in council business so it makes no sense enforcing a prayer session at the start of council meetings. Surely, having the separate, optional prayer meeting before is the best compromise as the prayer will be more meaningful to those who chose to go without impinging on the rights or beliefs of others!
NoLogo
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:27 PMIt may be Coun. Cooks view that "we live in a Christian society" but this does not equate to the facts of community in the UK today. Any intelligent person observing social realities can perceive this fact in the limited numbers of people attending Christian church services. If he is not able to perceive this perhaps he should take notice of the latest research carried out by the British Social Attitudes survey with 51% stating they were non-religious and 43% describing themselves as Christian. Obviously Coun. Cook has not been astute enough when visiting one of the major cities in the UK just how many of the population are of an alternative faith to Christianity. The UK is patently a society of many beliefs and faiths and any elected local government official should be mindful of this fact and it be reflected in the meetings that they attend.
AdamM
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:13 PMCouncillor Shorrock is quite right. Religious practices have nothing to do with council business, and they should be kept separate. People are free to believe what ever spiritual mythology they like but should not be a part of these meetings, or any other aspect of public office.
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