UK government WILL allow prayers during meetings - Polidicks

[B]The government is activating a power it says will allow councils in England to hold prayers at meetings.[/B] Communities secretary Eric Pickles says he is [B]"effectively reversing" the High Court's "illiberal ruling" that a Devon council's prayers were unlawful[/B]. He says part of the Localism Act that[B] aims to give councils greater powers and freedom[/B] will be brought in early. The National Secular Society questioned the act's reach and said the move could be challenged in court. The group opposes prayers in "a secular environment concerned with civic business". Earlier this month, in response to legal action brought by the society, the [B]High Court ruled that Bideford Town Council had acted unlawfully by allowing prayers[/B] to be said during meetings. Mr Justice Ouseley said that, under the Local Government Act 1972,[B] the council had no powers to hold prayers as part of a formal meeting[/B]. The controversial judgement has been regarded by many as [B]an example of the marginalisation of Christianity[/B], as well as a test case that has applied to councils in England and Wales since 10 February. Bideford Town Council has said it would appeal against the ruling. [B] The government argues that it was not intention or will of Parliament for this act from 40 years ago to be used to prohibit prayers.[/B] "The High Court judgement has far wider significance than just the municipal agenda of Bideford Town Council," said Mr Pickles. "By effectively reversing that illiberal ruling, we are striking a blow for localism over central interference, for freedom to worship over intolerant secularism, for Parliamentary sovereignty over judicial activism, and for long-standing British liberties over [B]modern-day political correctness.[/B]" He added that the Bideford council case should be "[B]a wake-up call[/B]". "[B]For too long, the public sector has been used to marginalise and attack faith in public life, undermining the very foundations of the British nation. But this week, the tables have been turned[/B]." [URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17082136[/URL]

[quote]"For too long, the public sector has been used to marginalise and attack faith in public life, undermining the very foundations of the British nation. But this week, the tables have been turned." [/quote] Why does this sound sinister?

Well, as long as they don't force everyone to join in, I don't really see an issue with this.

Does this also allow muslim prayers then?

What's the point in holding prays at meetings? Why can't councillors just pray in their own time?

I'm sorry but religion has absolutely no place in politics and this is just flying in the face of that man.

It's nice that they can prey, but it's like me walking into a meeting with loads of food and telling people to wait until I finish.

Religion has no place in politics, and should be taken out of it totally. If they want to pray so much, do it at home.

Nobody is attacking faith, it just doesn't have to interfere in politics. It's a personal thing. If you want to pray, you can do it whenever you want, but why should you especially do it before a meeting which in itself has nothing to do with religion? waste of time and makes no sense.

Changing Christian influence in government from 85% to 84% should not count as marginalization. It's sad that anyone needs to fucking state this

[QUOTE=leontodd;34755269]It's nice that they can prey, but it's like me walking into a meeting with loads of food and telling people to wait until I finish.[/QUOTE] The way I see it as walking into a lecture at uni, and answering your phone mid lecture and asking the lecturer to stop the lecture til your done. It completely inconvieniances everyone around you who's not part of that call/religion and it's pretty disrespectful in my opinion, as well as the fact that you should be leaving all personal business at the door when it comes to government.

[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;34755357]The way I see it as walking into a lecture at uni, and answering your phone mid lecture and asking the lecturer to stop the lecture til your done. It completely inconvieniances everyone around you who's not part of that call/religion and it's pretty disrespectful in my opinion, as well as the fact that you should be leaving all personal business at the door when it comes to government.[/QUOTE] It's not quite like that, it's essentially [i]`Item 1 - Prayers!`[/i]. If you want to pray, that's fine just as long as it isn't an item on the agenda. However, this is not the case. There are official prayers at the beginning of Parlimentary proceeding everyday!

Dammit, even America is more secular than us.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;34755047]Well, as long as they don't force everyone to join in, I don't really see an issue with this.[/QUOTE] This has been how i've viewed religion in the UK for a while, from many perspectives, so hopefully it will stay that way.

We all know the religious stuff that goes on in parliament is for show any way.

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34755433]We all know the religious stuff that goes on in parliament is for show any way.[/QUOTE] So my suspicions that Nick Clegg is actually a satanist may be true?

[QUOTE=The mouse;34755419]Dammit, even America is more secular than us.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.esreality.com/files/placeimages/2011/84841-Asian-Troll-Face.jpg[/img] We hold openering prayers before every session of congress.

This pales to nothing after what Baroness Warsi said.

[QUOTE=lulzbocksV2;34755672][img]http://www.esreality.com/files/placeimages/2011/84841-Asian-Troll-Face.jpg[/img] We hold openering prayers before every session of congress.[/QUOTE] We have Bishops with active and permanant roles in parliament :suicide:

[QUOTE=The mouse;34755745]We have Bishops with active and permanant roles in parliament :suicide:[/QUOTE] Yeah but they can't really do much except veto bills, which actually helped in regards to that benefits cap.

Someone should drag a goat corpse into one of these meetings and start out by 10 minutes of solid chanting and blood-smearing, just to get the point across that religious rituals have no place in the political sphere. If anyone attempts to stop it, you could just cry [I]"Religious persecution!"[/I], like oh so many of the big faiths do whenever they feel threatened in the slightest.

I should start showing up to these meetings and yell "HAIL SAGAN" when they start praying.

[QUOTE=Patriarch;34755284]Religion has no place in politics, and should be taken out of it totally.[/QUOTE] What you are essentially saying is "people who disagree with me should be disenfranchised".

[QUOTE=Capitulazyguy;34756429]What you are essentially saying is "people who disagree with me should be disenfranchised".[/QUOTE] Any elements of theocratic law is just bad in a multicultural country, hell even the bible says to keep government and religion separate.

Why the fuck can't people pray in public. Isn't that part of freedom of religion?

[QUOTE=Falchion;34756856]Why the fuck can't people pray in public. Isn't that part of freedom of religion?[/QUOTE] They're making a starting prayer an official part of the meeting, that's why we're getting annoyed, you can barter with the devil before the meeting starts if you like, but once it starts it should be all business.

So wait if I have a job in the UK, I can get [B]paid[/B] while praying? 5 hour satanic prayers here I come!

It should be meditation during meetings, not prayer.

Ahh foey

[IMG]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/4191032722_861db295f3_o.jpg[/IMG] Bluarghahah resistance to Pickles is futile.