Devon Humanists: Now is the time for Councils to be inclusive for all
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has moved to restore the legal basis for Devon's Councils to hold prayers at the start of business.
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However, Mr Pickles interpretation of the Law has been questioned and the move could be challenged in court.
Council prayers increasingly look set to become a battle between the Government and the courts at ever higher levels.
A spokesman for Devon Humanists said, "This doesn't have to spend years going through the courts. Now is the time for councils to be inclusive for all. We believe that local authorities should recognise the diversity of their local population and act to remove disincentives to involvement and engagement.
"Though the practice of exclusively Christian prayers may have been appropriate when we were all of one religion, we are now communities of many beliefs. In a modern society, councils should not be closely identified with any single faith or belief system, particularly one which openly disapproves of the lifestyle choices of so many of us.
"Indeed, many people recognise this. A new YouGov poll has shown that 55% of respondents were against councils holding prayers with 26% of respondents in favour. Twenty percent were uncertain.
"Many of us simply want an efficient business unit providing services and solving our problems. We don't believe that Devon Councils need to provide moral leadership and guidance.
"The average age of a councillor in England has actually risen in a decade from 55 to 59, while 56 per cent of young people have not even registered to vote. We should all be concerned when elected members are drawn from a narrow section of our society and that there is real disengagement from the democratic process.
"We know that society is changing, but so is religion in Britain.
"With 'moderate' mainstream Christianity declining, and evangelical faith becoming more evident, the potential conflicts between religion and society are many: homosexuality; abortion; relationships outside of marriage; safe sex; contraception; drug use and harm reduction; adoption; education; equality and diversity; scientific research; divorce; end of life; gender equality; etc.
"The solution is to compromise and to move towards the ideal of a level playing field for all.
"To their credit, Devon's inter-faith agencies have considered this issue and now adopt a neutral position in the form of a time of quiet reflection – not directed or dominated by any one faith or belief system.
"This compromise, along with other progressive reforms, would truly reflect the changing nature of our communities. Now is the time for Devon's Councils to embrace the future and to be inclusive for all."
6 Comments
by crazypenguin
Monday, February 20 2012, 7:53PM
“and seriously religious people talking about discrimination? does noone see the irony? this in the same week where christians are getting together against the bill to allow homosexual weddings, no thats not discrimination at all is it? you tottaly have the right to **** on the rights of those whos lifestyles you dont aggree with even if there not a part of your religon!(thats one thing that gets me, the main opposition to this gay marrige thing are christians it seems......well stop me if im wrong but the majority of gay couples are not going to be christians purly because of the discrimination against there lifestyle the church creates.....so why are members of a religion allowed to affect the lives of people not even of there faith? crazy!)”
by crazypenguin
Monday, February 20 2012, 7:50PM
“joefogeys got it spot on, noone is saying councellers cant pray, they are simply saying prayers should not be on the official agenda of meetings, not only is it a waste of time better spent doing there job(I fail to see what religion has to do with council matters) but its unfair to those who may not wish to participate, if prayers are part of an official agenda for a meeting that means all must attend, as anyone missing any items on the agenda for said meetings is normally ruled absent or late.
I dont see the problem here, christian councellers still get to hold there prayers and atheist members arent forced to attend....everybody wins right?........or so youd think, it makes me laugh when chrisitians talk about discrimination over issues like this....what discrimination is that? the right being taken away from you to force your religion on people who want no part of it?
well my friends thats a right that should be stamped out if there ever was one! this is 2012 not 1012!”
by JoeFogey
Monday, February 20 2012, 5:00PM
“Billyboy 11, you seem confused. No one is stopping anyone from praying before council meetings. If a group of councillors want to get together before the start of a scheduled meeting they can pray to anything or anybody they want to. But to hold prayers during a scheduled meeting leaves any councillor who doesn't want to talk to the air with no choice but to walk out of a meeting he or she is required as a councillor to attend. Sadly Bideford council chose to waste thousands of pounds of council tax payers money on a case where a perfectly acceptable compromise was available. Can we assume that the councillors who voted to hold prayers in contravention of the law will be paying the legal costs from their own pockets?”
by Jon_33
Monday, February 20 2012, 4:30PM
“@ billyboy11
If you want to pray to whatever magic sky fairy you want to, then go ahead; nobody is stopping you; however, why do you think everyone should be involved in prayers? The issue is that prayers of whatever flavour should not be part of the agenda of the meetings; fantasy and wishful thinking shouldn't really be part of the councils process surely?”
by ScepticalLady
Monday, February 20 2012, 4:05PM
“"I definitely don't want councillors wasting time asking for advice from above when they should be concentrating on my and other tax payers' affairs. I pay my council tax for their secular services; if I want spiritual advice - and I don't consider I need it - I will see a clergyman. That's what councillors should do as well instead of wasting time in council meetings. Many of them only pay lip service to religion anyway."”
by billyboy11
Monday, February 20 2012, 2:47PM
“I applaud the Devon Humanists' aspiration to be "inclusive for all" - but - perhaps they could explain to us their interpretation of an "inclusivity" which seeks to actively exclude Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and other religious believers from praying together to their God for successful and peaceful meetings?
For from being "inclusive" it merely appears to promote the will of a minority over that of the majority. A person who does not wish to join in with prayers to God (however the Deity is addressed or accessed) can simply absent him/her self from that part of the proceedings and allow the majority to be "inclusive" in ther own way - or would they rather see God banned from the whole of His creation's minds just to please them?
Thank you Devon Humanists to demonstrating that you are like every other militant minority: obviously you interpretation of "inclusivity" means imposing your minority point of view over that of the majority.
Bill, Plymouth”