Prayers to be banned before council meetings? (From Echo)

Prayers to be banned before council meetings?

2:42pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News

PRAYERS before council meetings in south Essex could be banned.

A test case in the High Court has ruled the practice is “unlawful” after an atheist councillor from Devon complained.

The verdict has been met with disbelief and incredulity by political and religious figures in south Essex, where three authorities - Southend, Rochford district and Castle Point - regularly hold prayers before full council meetings.

Mike Lodge, the chaplain for Rochford District Council, said: “I am extremely saddened by this.

“It seems to be the minority holding sway over the majority, and more evidence of the increasing marginalisation of Christianity in this country.”

Simon Smith, the council’s chairman, added: “I simply cannot understand why this is an issue.

“Surely we have got better things to be spending our time and money on?”