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UK: Bideford Town Council prayers ruled unlawful
This is a bit surprising, given that the UK has Anglicanism as its official religion, with bishops sitting in the House of Lords and so on. But the ruling is specifically about a council not being allowed to make prayers an official part of the meeting.
A Devon town council acted unlawfully by allowing prayers to be said before meetings, the High Court has ruled.
Action was brought against Bideford Town Council by the National Secular Society (NSS) after atheist councillor Clive Bone complained.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled the prayers were not lawful under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972.
However, he said prayers could be said as long as councillors were not formally summoned to attend.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16980025
Action was brought against Bideford Town Council by the National Secular Society (NSS) after atheist councillor Clive Bone complained.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled the prayers were not lawful under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972.
However, he said prayers could be said as long as councillors were not formally summoned to attend.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16980025
