Bid to ban opening prayer from Laois council meeting falls on deaf ears
County Hall, Portlaoise, where the monthly meeting the county council takes place
A PROPOSITION to scrap the long-held tradition of saying a prayer before the start of council meetings in Laois was roundly defeated when it came before the February meeting of Laois County Council.
At the outset of the debate, cllr Aisling Moran said: “I’m not against any religion, but as a council we need to be more inclusive to all in our community. We should look at replacing the prayer with a minute of reflection. People can say their own prayer in their head or just sit in silent reflection. There needs to be a clear divide between church and state.” She said: “At the recent local elections, a number of people contested who would not have been of the Catholic religion. Had they been elected, would we continue with the prayer before our meetings? Nobody (councillors) that I know of has ever been asked what religion they are. Looking forward, if we could have a minute’s reflection instead of the prayer.” Cllr Marie Tuohy said: “I disagree. I can’t see how anyone could have a problem with a prayer. It doesn’t matter what your belief or you faith system is. If you don’t want to participate in the prayer, close you mind and particulate in your own prayer.” “I strongly disagree as well,” said cllr John Joe Fennelly. “If people want a minute’s reflection after the prayer, I’d have no problem with that whatsoever. But certainly, council meetings should start with a prayer.” Cllr Paschal McEvoy said: “Cllr Moran is entitled to her opinion, but I think it would be an awful thing to remove the prayer. It’s doing nobody any harm. You don’t have to participate or stand up for it, if you don’t want to. I would totally oppose the removal of the prayer in any shape or form.” “I, too, would totally disagree with cllr Moran on this,” said cllr Paddy Buggy. “Most people in here are either Christian or non-believers, or whatever. If it ever comes to the stage where we have Muslims or Jews elected, we can respect their beliefs, too, with a prayer in their faith as well as the Christian faith.” Also disagreeing, cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said: “I think the words of the prayer we say before our meetings are worth looking at. To me, they are like a reflection. They are asking us to consider everything that we do. I don’t think our prayer represents any faith. I think it’s like a reflection. I would fully be in support of the prayer remaining.” Cllr John King said: “It’s part of our culture.” Cllr Moran said: “I respect everybody’s opinions and views on this, but we are one of a very few councils around the country that still say a prayer before their meetings. There should be a clear divide between church and state. I’d have no problem with a minute’s reflection and councillors given the prayer to put it on their desks and to say it in their heads, but to be respectful to everybody in our community, we need a minute’s reflection.” The text of the prayer that is recited before every monthly meeting of Laois County Council is:
