Council prayers campaign progresses to the next stage
NSS decides to take an intransigent Bideford Council to High Court over Council Prayers
The NSS is instructing its lawyers to proceed to the next stage of seeking a judicial review of the practice. See the Press Association report from the Independent for more details.
Meanwhile, at Dartmouth Town Council, also in Devon, an atheist councillor sat defiantly with his iPod earphones in while prayers were said. Councillor Brian Boughton was making a point before the council voted on whether to continue to have prayers before the meetings. In the event, the councillors elected to continue with prayers.
Mr Boughton said: "I accept that they want to continue with the tradition, but that leaves the problem for those like myself who do not wish to participate. I’ve asked the mayor to consider opening up the prayers to other people. It is good to reflect quietly when one is preparing to do public business and to try to reach decisions that are for the benefit of the community. The basic idea is good but why should it be restricted to the Christian faith and the Church of England?"
Dartmouth’s Mayor, Councillor Debbie Morris, branded Mr Boughton’s iPod action as disrespectful: "Councillors should have the respect, if they wish not to participate, either to stand quietly or if they do not want to be in the chamber there's nothing stopping them from waiting outside".
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