10 February - Bexley council. Forgive them their trespasses
As I know that Bonkers has a reader in Bideford I thought I might mention on
yet another quiet day in Bexley that down in Devon a councillor objected to
prayers being said before Bideford’s council meetings and took his objection to
court. Mr. Justice Ousely ruled that such prayers are unlawful under
Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 and his ruling will affect all
councils (assuming it is not overturned on appeal).
I have no objections to council prayers and might encourage them if God was being
asked to help residents against their oppressors, but more often than not the
emphasis is the other way around. I shall probably be labelled a hypocrite but
when Bexley council carries on flouting this particular court ruling I won't be making a fuss
about it. Not unless some idiot mayor decides to write to any
atheist member of the public who choses not to stand up.
Parsimonious adulation instead of
parsimonious appreciation?
Full court report.