Unholy Row Breaks Out Over Council Prayer Time

12.02.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 30th Jul 2007

Some people may have read or heard about how Paul Pettinger a councillor in Exeter has refused to stand for prayers during a civic meeting. If you click on the link below you will be able to read the story as published on www.thisisexeter.co.uk

I'm not sure about whether the prayers that take place before full council are agenda item number one or take place before the meeting. If they are agenda item number one then they should be stopped as soon as possible because they exclude anyone who has no religious beliefs and in that case Paul Pettinger protest is purely legitimate. As a side point why do people of faith believe that others must as they do, as I understand it Paul Pettinger was sitting during the prayers I doubt this was causing any nuisance, problems or trouble for anyone else so why didn't the Lord Mayor just leave him to do what he was doing.

If the prayers take place before the full council meeting starts then Paul Pettinger could have waited outside the council chamber before going into the council meeting.

Finally I have to support Paul Pettinger's point of view that our councillors, MPs and other politicians are elected to do a job for their constituents and the people they serve and faith has nothing to do with it. If politicians think they require guidance from God or another source before making decisions then they are welcome to seek this guidance outside of meeting times.

Related Link:

Unholy Row Breaks Out Over Council Prayer Time.