Is Christianity Being Marginalised?

[amateur51]

Ah, so you're saying Bideford Council should have bent to the will of the minority against the wishes of the majority ... gotcha!

What Bideford Council has been doing vis-a-vis praying is ILLEGAL scotty because its not within their powers to do it - that's what the judge found in this case. Nowt to do with democracy

[scottycelt]

Nowt to do with democracy

You're dead right about that, Ams ...

[Beef Oven]

Nobody is offended by other people calling on devine help with their lives if that's what turns them on.

Some of us find it obnoxious that they expect everybody else to hang around whilst they do so.

It's a difference of freedom of conscience (no offence here) and imposition of one's beliefs on others (which is obnoxious).

Clarified?

Mostly clarified. Thank you. Please just tell us a bit more about the use of the word 'obnoxious' . Seems a little intense.

[Beef Oven]

What Bideford Council has been doing vis-a-vis praying is ILLEGAL scotty because its not within their powers to do it - that's what the judge found in this case. Nowt to do with democracy

I am not sure that what they were doing was illegal. I think there is no actual statute covering the situation and the very nature of common law is that it develops as we go along - which is what has happened here.

[amateur51]

I am not sure that what they were doing was illegal. I think there is no actual statute covering the situation and the very nature of common law is that it develops as we go along - which is what has happened here.

Herewith the BBC's account of the judgement ansd reaction thereto ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16989232

From this I'm highlighting ...

"A High Court ruling that a Devon town council acted unlawfully by allowing prayers to be said before meetings has sparked a mixed reaction.

The 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."

[amateur51]

You're dead right about that, Ams ...

Your red herring, scotty

[Beef Oven]

Herewith the BBC's account of the judgement ansd reaction thereto ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16989232

From this I'm highlighting ...

"A High Court ruling that a Devon town council acted unlawfully by allowing prayers to be said before meetings has sparked a mixed reaction.

The 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."

I have read that, thanks. I am not a lawyer, but that does not sound convincing and the appeal will be interesting.

[amateur51]

I have read that, thanks. I am not a lawyer, but that does not sound convincing

I'm sure that Mr Justice Ouseley is gutted to know that, Beefy

[Beef Oven]

I'm sure that Mr Justice Ouseley is gutted to know that, Beefy

Jokes aside, I bet he wishes this one had landed on someone else's desk.

[Lateralthinking1]

Ah, so you're saying Bideford Council should have bent to the will of the minority against the wishes of the majority ... gotcha!

I am not sure that Bideford's Liberal Democrats have ever been natural team players -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1083513/Lib-Dem-stripper-Im-quitting-councillor-respects-me.html

[Flosshilde]

I wonder what would happen if they wanted to cast a pentagram and say a prayer to Satan ?

Or indeed a gay kiss-in, which all councillors had to participate in? Scotty would presumably have no objection if it was decided by a majority.

[amateur51]

Or indeed a gay kiss-in, which all councillors had to participate in? Scotty would presumably have no objection if it was decided by a majority.

[scottycelt]

Or indeed a gay kiss-in, which all councillors had to participate in? Scotty would presumably have no objection if it was decided by a majority.

Thankfully, in the real and overwhelmingly heterosexual world that would be most unlikely, Flossie ....

Nevertheless, if I were a member of such a council, I would simply resign my seat and say good riddance. I certainly wouldn't pretend that it had anything to do with being 'marked late' at council meetings, because of my objections at finding the whole thing thoroughly 'obnoxious', and then go crying like a baby to the courts.

If the majority on the council thought it were appropriate to have such a peculiar event then by all means let them go ahead ... I am a true democrat and would accordingly respect the wishes of the majority of councilors!

However, as a personal protest, I would then blame the EU and stand as a UKIP candidate (Nigel willing) at the next Election ...

[Beef Oven]

Thankfully, in the real and overwhelmingly heterosexual world that would be most unlikely, Flossie ....

Nevertheless, if I were a member of such a council, I would simply resign my seat and say good riddance. I certainly wouldn't pretend that it had anything to do with being 'marked late' at council meetings, because of my objections at finding the whole thing thoroughly 'obnoxious', and then go crying like a baby to the courts.

If the majority on the council thought it were appropriate to have such a peculiar event then by all means let them go ahead ... I am a true democrat and would accordingly respect the wishes of the majority of councilors!

However, as a personal protest, I would then blame the EU and stand as a UKIP candidate (Nigel willing) at the next Election ...

[amateur51]

Thankfully, in the real and overwhelmingly heterosexual world that would be most unlikely, Flossie ....

You don't get out much these days, do you scotty?!