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 challenged in the United States
Posted: Mon, 20 May 2013 17:25
The US Supreme Court is to consider whether prayers can be offered as part of government meetings.
The case is being brought by two residents of Greece, New York, who say they feel marginalized by the Christian prayers that open every town board meeting.
The two women – Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens – are being represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a religious liberty watchdog that has long opposed the practice of inviting clergy to open meetings with sectarian prayers.
Town officials claim members of all faiths and atheists are welcome to give the opening prayer, but official records show that two-thirds of the prayers delivered between 1999 and June 2010 contained references to "Jesus Christ", "Your Son", "the Holy Spirit" or "Jesus".
Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said: "A town council meeting isn't a church service, and it shouldn't seem like one. The Government can't serve everyone in the community when it endorses one faith over others. That sends the clear message that some are second-class citizens based on what they believe about religion."
American's United Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan, who is expected to argue the case before the Supreme Court this autumn, commented: "Legislative bodies should focus on serving the community and stay out of the business of promoting religion."
After a similar challenge by the National Secular Society in 2011, the High Court in London ruled that prayers as part of formal meetings of a Council were unlawful.
Following the ruling, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said that the Localism Act, which came into effect after the ruling, enabled councils to continue to include prayers as part of their formal business. However, his claims, which have been questioned by legal professionals, have yet to be tested in court.
It is thought that around half of UK councils known to be opening meetings with prayers before the ruling, have now ended the practice.
Despite secular constitution, Fiji government won’t rule out prayer at official functions
Posted: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:11
With Fiji set to become a secular state when the new constitution comes into effect, it has been confirmed that "general prayers acceptable to all" will be said in government organised functions.
In the draft constitution, it is clearly stated that religious belief is personal. It said that the State and all persons holding a public office must treat all religions equally and they must not dictate any religious belief.
The draft further said that the State and all persons holding a public office must not prefer or advance, by any means, any particular religion, religious denomination, religious belief or religious practice over another, or over any non-religious belief.
When asked on how the government departments will handle prayers at functions when the constitution is adopted, Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said a prayer can be said that is acceptable to all.
