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The National Secular Society is trying to manipulate the principle of non-discrimination to bring religion to heel. This did not work here

The quality of accommodation that the National Secular Society (NSS) may grant judgment Bideford council are illegal sentences can be summarized in the familiar comment from Alan Hansen on the major clubs in the Premier Football League through a rough patch: "It is important to get a result, even when you're not playing well." NSS definitely takes home a point, but their arguments lead - that sentences of this type, which lasts about three minutes and allow an opt-out, if it is imposed on unbelievers who do not respect their human rights - not beyond the midline at this particular meeting. Justice Ouseley concluded that the mere fact that the non-religious council that the bone Clive might feel "uncomfortable" during prayers of the Council is not a discriminatory disadvantage sufficiently serious to warrant intervention of state protection. When a judge recognizes that mere temporary subjective discomfort in the presence of other religious practices or passing or aversion is not sufficient to justify the direct instrument of the statutory prohibition, religious freedom is enhanced.

So Bideford council and his followers Christians also bring home a point, but only after a performance just as hesitant. They have failed to convince a judge of the longstanding practice by the Supreme Court of the opening board meetings with Christian prayers was legal. Its three main shots on goal: your call to the constitutional status of the Church of England, his invocation of tradition and its claim to the wishes of the good burghers Bideford - everything goes all

other hand, many observers are puzzled, if it is not disturbed to discover that an issue of such fundamental importance of the Constitution, as if an official government agency may carry out a religious practice must turn in the building this obscure corner of administrative law, as Part III of the Local Government Act 1972. The judge's interpretation of the novel of the Act, no doubt, be rigorously if the case goes to appeal -. That, given the potential magnitude of the issue, must surely

The third argument - the call for the democratic will - is particularly problematic. Eric Pickles has given comfort as fast as its right to new localism, which could take effect in a few days, give it a new general power of local authorities, giving them the opportunity to opt for the opening prayer (and therefore the religious practices of others), if they wish. If he is right, who makes the decision on the effectiveness of these practices depends on the religious (or nonreligious) preferences temporary electoral majorities.

we hope that, following the judgment, the board quietly and reasonably choose to leave out of their official programs and allow prayer to be held before council meetings on a basis fully voluntary? This seems an obvious example of "reasonable accommodation" that is asked in a religiously pluralistic society, and no loss of religious freedom in question. It is difficult to see how this could be any kind of defeat for authentic Christianity: they are not sincere prayers, but no official of the true believers of greater value than the official religion indifferent or reluctant? More to the point, not the facts of Christian counselors working locally for justice and the common good supremely important that the expressions of public piety could continue? The church needs to spend more time with these advisors made to match the tasks to ask them to cling to the constitutional privilege covered the fading past.

meantime, pending the resumption, they revel in a moment the hypocrisy of the Daily Mail wonderfully familiar courage to jump into the cause of Christianity, while at the same site unfold before him the flesh off naked as Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson and Candice Swanepoel. With friends like th ...

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