Mayor says council prayers continue despite court ban
THE Mayor of Bideford has vowed to continue prayers in the council chamber – despite a High Court judgement banning them.
The Little White Town came under intense national scrutiny when it lost a High Court battle to defend its traditional practice of having prayers on council agendas.
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DELIGHTED: Bideford councillor Clive Bone says the high court judgement is an important victory.
The decision will affect councils across the country.
Bideford mayor Trevor Johns said: "Until I have a writ or a document in my hand with the seal of the Queen then I don't see why I should be compelled to ban anything.
"I want to see prayers continue one way or another in Bideford.
"If the mayor wishes to have prayers, as is tradition, then the meeting should proceed with prayers.
"Anyone who does not want to enter the council chamber until the prayers are over is being disrespectful to the mayor."
The town council is yet to decide whether to appeal against the High Court decision which has sparked fierce debate nationwide.
Former Bideford councillor and atheist Clive Bone and the National Secular Society took legal action against the town council claiming its actions were unlawful.
Mr Bone, who tried and failed to have prayers stopped during his time in office, said as a non-believer, he felt disadvantaged and embarrassed by the practice.
He said he was "delighted" with the High Court ruling on Friday which means prayers can no longer be held in the formal part of council meetings and he hopes it will encourage more younger people to stand.
"Councils were sending out the wrong signal. They are dominated by elderly church-goers and the council belongs to everyone, not just a few," he said.
Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society (NSS), added: "There is no longer a respectable argument that Britain is a solely Christian nation, or even a religious one."
"This judgment is an important victory for everyone who wants a secular society, one that neither advantages nor disadvantages people because of their religion or lack of it."
Bideford Town Council said it was "surprised and disappointed" with the ruling but acknowledged that prayers may still be said in the council chamber immediately preceding formal business.
It said: "We are very pleased that the court has decided in favour of Bideford that we had not discriminated against Mr Bone nor infringed his human rights and that the practices adopted by the council did not infringe equality legislation."
Torridge District Council held a full council meeting on Monday evening in Bideford.
Prayers were on the agenda as it had been drawn up ahead of Friday's hearing.
They still went ahead, just not as part of the formal council business.
Mr Johns, who is also a district councillor, said: "No one left the chamber on Monday while prayers were held.
"We don't have a problem here in Torridge, even though this is where it all started."
An extraordinary council meeting is due to take place behind closed doors in Bideford this evening where the Manchester firm, Aughton Ainsworth, which represented Bideford Town Council at the High Court, will advise councillors of their options.
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by JohnAllman
Friday, February 17 2012, 10:45PM
“Listening to the Bideford Council, the Mayor, the Christian Institute, the National Secular Society, former councillor Clive Bone, the lawyers, certain rent-a-quote politicians, certain clergy and most of the world's media, one could be forgiven for mistakenly thinking that this case had decided that it amounted to discrimination, or a breach of somebody's human rights, for councillors to pray. Nothing of the kind was decided. All that was decided was that in 1972, the Heath government had drafted legislation that Parliament passed, and which I understand is about to be superseded by the Localism Act anyway, that limited the powers of councils in a way probably not foreseen at the time, including, in the opinion of the trial judge forty years later, omitting to give councils the power of putting prayers onto the agendas of council meetings if they wanted to do that. So what?”
by BenDover169
Friday, February 17 2012, 6:55AM
“Jeremy, we don't want to you pray to ask for guidance. You were elected to make decisions on OUR behalf. If you are not capable of making a decision without the guidance of 'God' (different time for a discussion about whether there is one), then you should really step down as you are not fit to be a councillor.
You come across as being religious? however religion has no place what so ever in Politics. No one is suggesting that 'god' is going to physically empty the rubbish bins, but similarly you shouldn't need to be asking for guidance, man up and make decisions based on what would be best for the people you represent.
Stand down my friend.”
by Ant__
Friday, February 17 2012, 12:40AM
“I look forward to the council debate once Pickles's localism bill is passed. Will they seriously debate a motion to force all council members to attend christian prayers as part of council business, cos thats what they will have to do to continue with this nonsense.”
by accom
Friday, February 17 2012, 12:05AM
“The Council may be Conservative but the mayor himself is a Lib Dem.”
by Red_Diesel
Thursday, February 16 2012, 10:58PM
“.
So that's tonight's news.
Bideford council are going to appeal the ruling on prayers - using money from the Christian Institute.
The Christian Institute does not like gay people.
The Christian Institute campaigned against lowering the age of gay consent
The Christian Institute campaigned against Civil Partnerships
The Christian Institute campaigned against the repeal of Clause 28
The Christian Institute considers active gays to be sinners
The Christian Institute is not about Christian love; the Christian Institute is about Christian hate.
The Devil works in disguise - and sometimes disguises himself as a Christian.
.”
by devonstroller
Thursday, February 16 2012, 10:18PM
“Of course it is a Tory council! It is often said that the church of England is the Conservative Party at prayer.”
by Red_Diesel
Thursday, February 16 2012, 10:04PM
“Might be a good time to stop prayers at Remembrance Day?
If there was a loving God, there wouldn't be any wars.”
by Red_Diesel
Thursday, February 16 2012, 9:39PM
“.
It's a Conservative council.
If they pray about weekly or fortnightly rubbish collections, The Lord will answer from on high that the Conservative manifesto says "weekly" - so that's sorted. :)
.”
by Red_Diesel
Thursday, February 16 2012, 9:36PM
“I read yesterday that the mayor is a lay preacher. Does anyone know which church he is a member of?”
by Red_Diesel
Thursday, February 16 2012, 9:35PM
“The Christian Institute that financially backed the High Court case for the council is a militant Christian outfit that believes in the inerrancy of the Bible and has campaigned actively against any relaxation of anti-homosexual laws (clause 28) the lowering of the age of consent for homosexuals and civil partnerships.
Google or Wiki the 'Christian Institute' to confirm this.”