An assistant editor at The Guardian and the Labour MP Chris Bryant have both hit out at a secularist pressure group’s attempt to ban a local council from saying prayers. Last week the National Secular Society (NSS) went to the High Court in an attempt to end Bideford Town Council’s practice of saying prayers at the start of its meetings. Commenting on the case Michael White an assistant editor at The Guardian, warned that the case raised a wider question ‘about the intolerant impulse many people have to inflict their views on others’. He said that ‘communities should surely be allowed to sort out their own arrangements’ without interference from the NSS. And Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for Rhondda, questioned why the case had even gone to court. Mr Bryant said ‘surely the 16 members of Bideford Council, who have already voted on this twice, should be allowed to pray, if they want to.’

Pray: for the Bideford Council to be empowered in their stand and for the NSS to recognise that a period of reflection is helpful before meetings. (Job.33:26)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/guardian-editor-and-mp-criticise-nss-prayer-case/