Letter: Let us pray at council meetings

Well, here we go again, the tail wagging the dog.

I have been a councillor for the Meole Brace ward for more than 10 years and at the start of our council meetings we always have prayers, usually from the Reverend Mark Thomas.

I am in a very privileged position to represent people on the town council and part of that is to remember our fellow man.

We pray for people all over the world who are maybe suffering in a war zone or a famine or an earthquake. We also pray for maybe a councillor who is not well or their partner who is not well or has maybe lost a dear one.

This brings us closer together and gives us time to reflect on our role as caring people.

I was the Shrewsbury town mayor last year and my faith is Roman Catholicism. We included Canon Coonan in our ceremonies and hopefully this will continue in the future to bring all faiths and people together.

Religion has been a target for lots of troubles in the world and even war – but we live in a Christian country and we cannot go on giving up everything that we hold dear.

Maybe the judge who passed this silly rule would do better to look at the bigger problems we have in this country and not waste time on petty problems.

I am sure at Shrewsbury Town Council if any councillor is not happy with prayers they would step outside for the few minutes it takes.

We are elected to look after people and to start our meetings with a prayer it is so harmless and civilised.

Religion is a lovely way to bring up children and because of this it follows us through life.

Let us go forward with the right attitude and say our prayers at our meetings for the people of Shrewsbury and all over the world, not forgetting our Armed Forces.

We are doing no harm to anyone.

This is an old custom which has been with us for many years and should remain. I am sure that in due course the judgement will be changed.

My main question now is, who has paid for this High Court case? No doubt the poor old taxpayer again.

Councillor Kathleen Owen

Meole Brace Ward

See also:

• Leader: Council prayer slot now being threatened

• Oswestry mayor horrified as councils face prayers ban