We don't think religious worship should play any part in the formal business of the state.
We want to see parliamentary and local government meetings conducted in a manner equally welcoming to all attendees, whatever their personal beliefs.
Parliamentary prayers
Sittings in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords begin with Anglican prayers. MPs and peers stand for prayers facing the wall behind them – a practice thought to have developed due to the difficulty members would historically have faced of kneeling to pray while wearing a sword.
When the chamber is at its busiest, parliamentary prayers act as a bizarre and antiquated seat reservation system. Even MPs and peers who are slated to speak have no option but to attend prayers in order to reserve a seat.
Whilst they may be viewed by some as an important tradition, parliamentary prayers serve to assert the superiority of Christianity (and the Church of England in particular) at Westminster. This 'tradition' is inimical to a modern, pluralistic, secular democracy.
In the Scottish Parliament, Tuesday afternoon sessions begin with 'Time for Reflection', with faith and belief representatives invited to addresses members for up to four minutes. The Northern Ireland Assembly begins formal business with a period of two minutes of silent prayer or contemplation. The Welsh Assembly has adopted no such rituals.
Parliamentarians who wish to pray are free to do so. But prayers should not form part of the official business of Parliament.
Council prayers
Many local authorities in Britain also begin their meetings with prayer.
Local democracy should be equally welcoming to all sections of society, regardless of their religion or belief. Council meetings should be conducted without anyone feeling excluded, or compelled to either participate in prayers or absent themselves from part of the meeting.
Council prayers open the door to wholly unnecessary conflict and sectarian squabbles within local authorities. There is a history of local councillors being bullied and marginalised for challenging council prayers.
The absence of prayers from the formal business of meetings in no way impedes religious freedoms or denies anybody the right to pray. Conversely, organised worship in secular settings imposes worship on those who do not share the faith. A genuine commitment to freedom of religion or belief is incompatible with including acts of worship in the formal business of council meetings.
If local authorities wish to hold a moment of silent reflection at the beginning of a meeting, or if councillors wish to meet for prayers prior to the meeting, they are at liberty to do so.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Please enter your postcode and urge your MP to support an alternative to parliamentary prayers, to make parliament more welcoming to people of all faiths and none.
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue - for example, if you would like to challenge prayers at your own council.
3. Join the National Secular Society
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Council prayers – the ripples spread to Lincolnshire
Posted: Thu, 7 Jun 2012 15:23
The leader of West Lindsey District Council has come under heavy fire from the religious establishment in the town – and some of his fellow councillors – for saying that he would "heartily cheer" when council prayers were outlawed.
Cllr Burt Keimach was responding to an e-mail from an officer asking for councillors' views on prayers being said before council meetings. His response, which was leaked to a local newspaper, said: "I am totally against any and all religious utterances in a public place on taxpayers' money, and will heartily cheer when they become illegal. However, for now I will tolerate, notice I do not say respect, the wishes of the whole council."
This immediately brought a typically over-the-top and nonsensical response from the local Catholic establishment.
Fr Tom Breslin of Market Rasen, said: "It worries me, it seems very dictatorial. You expect the leader of the council to respect the majority. While Christians and people of faith are tolerant of other points of view, the author of this statement displays a high degree of intolerance and talks of using the law to outlaw religious expression of many citizens who may have voted for him in past elections. Perhaps the writer could be reminded that Communists and Nazis and many others have tried to suppress religion in the public arena and failed. I am dismayed also that he should show contempt for the views of his fellow council members, but assure him that we Christians will pray for that he will grow in understanding of the diverse community which he has been elected to serve."
But Cllr Keimach was not going to be intimidated by such stupid and ignorant remarks. He said: "I have no religious beliefs and I don't think they should be forced on people, but our council will obey the law. Eventually, I believe prayers at meetings will become illegal. I suppose you can say it's no longer a Christian country.
"I think America has got it right - I believe in the separation of religion and state and we don't quite have that here."
Cllr Keimach said he does not "completely agree" with local government minister Eric Pickles supposedly overturning the High Court's decision. But local Liberal Democrat councillor Ken Bridger, who describes himself as a "committed Christian", has other thoughts.
He said: "I was a bit shocked when I first read his e-mail. He is totally out of order – as leader of the council I don't think he should be saying this sort of thing. It's a Christian county, that's why people want to live here. Plus, it's part of our tradition and people don't have to take part in prayers if they don't want to."
Rev Michael Cartwright of Market Rasen's St Thomas' Church said: "He's entitled to his views but he should be reminded the law over here is different to the US. And I would remind him they say prayers in parliament before it starts. If he's got a problem with the way things are done over here then he shouldn't be on the council."
Market Rasen Salvation Army Envoy Anne Chaplain said: "He shouldn't be saying this, as leader of the council. You need to respect what other people want to do."
Caistor Methodist Church Rev Andrew Lomax said: "He has a right to his own opinion but you have to respect the wishes of other people.
"I'm not someone who would force religion onto people but I don't think the government should make such things illegal."
Market Rasen New Life Church Pastor Paul Hiley said: "I'm sorry that our West Lindsey District Council representative feels as he does. "He would struggle if he ever became an MP because for centuries sittings in both houses have begun with Christian prayers, for which attendance is voluntary.
"I hope Mr Keimach would be gracious enough to respect as well as tolerate."
Rev Charles Patrick of St Peter and St Paul's Church, Middle Rasen, said: "As you might imagine I value every opportunity to pray, both as an individual and together with others. I find it keeps me focussed on things beyond myself, to realise that I'm not totally reliant on my own ability and to check my behaviour towards others."
The council is in the process of doing an internal consultation on prayers at meetings and is yet to make a final decision.
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: "The reaction of the local religious high-ups to the council leader's rather measured remarks indicates that they are rattled by any threat to their interference in public life. I should remind them that the High Court judge who ruled on this specifically stated that the council cannot simply vote themselves the right to do something that is against the law. The High Court judgment stands and Mr Pickles' self-serving claims for the Localism Act are exaggerated and untested. Several authoritative legal opinions have now concluded that the Localism Act does not do what Mr Pickles says it does. We would not like to see Lindsey District Council facing contempt of court proceedings if it decides to defy the law."
Mr Sanderson said he was astonished by the "blinkered and smug" attitudes of local Christians who thought they had a perfect right to intrude their religious views into a secular forum to discuss civic matters.
"There aren't only Christians living in the Lindsey district," he said, "and there are some people who strongly resent having to observe rituals in which they do not believe in a setting that is totally inappropriate for them."
Council prayers – the ripples are still spreading: Brighton and Hove
Posted: Thu, 7 Jun 2012 15:18
The leader of Brighton and Hove, Bill Randall, has announced that he intends to significantly increase the amount of religious participation before council meetings. As well as Christian Ministers, rabbis, Buddhists and Muslim imams will be invited to lead prayers in the council chamber.
Mr Randall says that this is all part of his 'multi-faith' year initiative forBrightonand Hove City Council.
Mr Randall said the new multi-faith services would be legal because councillors would not be "formally summoned to attend" although they would take place in the council chamber. He said: "This is to better reflect the many faiths in our city and about promoting love and peace. During the year we will have one faith for every council meeting and the reaction to the idea has been terrific."
But one man who wasn't pleased about this was Bill McIlroy, former secretary of the NSS and editor of the Freethinker, from the Brighton and Hove Humanist Society, who said the decision to introduce multi-faith prayers into council meetings was "completely out of order".
He told the Brighton Argus: "Councils are elected to do civic business, not for part-time worshippers to turn public buildings into religious buildings. It's no good saying these prayers are fine because they are not on the agenda. They are just looking for loopholes because they know people will object. It's a total waste of time. Brighton is one of the most secular cities in the UK so I think they've got a nerve."
