Atheist Group Calls for Prayer Removal Before Town Council Meetings
Secularists are challenging the legality of prayers spoken at town council meetings, even at the High Court, in England.
The National Secular Society is taking Bideford Town Council in Devon to the High Court after receiving a complaint from one of its councilors, Clive Bone, about prayers said before meetings.
Mr. Bone, an atheist, said that he was “disadvantaged and embarrassed” by having to participate in the prayers.
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The rest of the council members have defended prayers during meetings. They base their argument on the grounds of religious freedom. Officials on the council have decided to reject Mr. Bone’s request for a moment of silence to replace the time of prayer.
The National Secular Society said the council should be a “secular environment concerned with civic business.” It claimed that prayers at council meetings was “inappropriate” and had no direct connection with civic business.
Keith Porteous Wood, an executive director of the National Secular Society, said: “We are not seeking to deny anybody the right to pray, but we are challenging the appropriateness of prayers being conducted during council meetings.”
Lawyers for the NSS claim the council’s actions are unlawful and that they breach the right to freedom of conscience and protection from discrimination guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Bideford Town Council had no immediate comment regarding the court proceedings. The Christian Institute is funding the council’s defense.
“The Council have debated this several times. They’ve debated it, they’ve sought advice, they’ve held special meetings and they’ve voted on it. And the majority of them said, actually we would actually like to continue with this practice," said Mike Judge, a spokesperson for The Christian Institute.
Judge continued: “It cannot be unlawful for the council to say prayers if it has democratically chosen to do so.”
