Observer Comment: To pray or not to pray?
FORMAL prayers at Rother’s full council and charters trustees meetings will now be a thing of the past due to a legal ruling that the practise is unlawful on a council agenda.
However Rother’s chief executive Derek Stevens has said prayers will continue, more than likely by setting aside an informal period for reflection before the official meetings begin.
Some argue that the council chamber is no place for religion, and that Christian prayers discriminate against atheists and those of other faiths.
Others find the practise reassuring and welcome prayers as both a traditional aspect of the council and a chance to reflect on the ethics behind the business ahead.
The situation might seem like political correctness gone mad to some, but at least it gives everybody the right to choose while keeping to the new law.
Those councillors and members of the public who wish to acknowledge God or any other higher authority within the remit of short prayers before these meetings can still do so.
And anybody who feels uncomfortable with or is offended by the practise can enter the council chamber once the formal agenda begins.
....................
Cancer: one can’t be too careful with checks
OUR decision to highlight Roy Collins’ battle with breast cancer was simple.
Breast cancer is known as a women’s illness and most men are totally unaware there is a risk to them too, however small.
At some point in our lives it’s likely we will all be affected by cancer in some shape or form, whether a family member or friend becomes ill or we have to fight the disease ourselves.
Roy’s plea for men to be aware of this form of cancer is extremely good advice.
We don’t want to be alarmist: we just want to help get the message out there.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
