新闻媒体在 R((1)国家世俗协会(2)骨)v Bideford Town Council (2012年2月10日)为"理事会会议前的祈祷被裁定为非法" and "基督教受到攻击."这样做很可能创造了 对案件判决的错误印象。这篇文章解释了大法官Ouseley先生的实际裁决。
索赔人向理事会提出挑战'作为理事会的一部分进行祈祷的做法'的事:祈祷作为议程项目出现并被记录在案。有人认为,这种做法违反了《平等法》所载的关于宗教歧视和公共部门职责的禁令(因为这是不合理的间接歧视);违反了骨先生'人权;并脱离了安理会的权力。
的 Council responded that no councillor was required to participate in prayers and the record of attendance at meetings was held after prayers. It also asserted that any interference with rights was minimal and in the circumstances justified and that the Council had the power to hold prayers.
重要的是要注意法官面前的狭窄问题:"在所有召集议员的会议上,是否可以说祈祷是安理会进行的正式工作的一部分." 的 judge also observed that his 决定 would apply to religions other than Christianity.
的 last paragraph of the judgment summarises simply and clearly what the judge held:
"的 saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a Council is not lawful under s.111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue. If it were lawful, the manner in which it is carried out in the circumstances of Bideford does not infringe either Mr Bone'的人权,也没有因他缺乏宗教信仰而间接地非法歧视他 ."
的 judge had observed earlier in the 决定 that saying prayers before the meeting and not as part of the formal business of the meeting would not be unlawful.
的refore, public bodies wishing to hold (or continue to hold) prayers as part of their meetings would be advised to review the practice to ensure that doing so falls within their powers and those wishing to hold (or continue to hold) prayers before their meetings would be advised to ensure that the way they do so does not amount to discrimination.