Council prayers to stay

A motion put forward by Lib Dem Councillor Rosemary Jones to continue with the practice of civic prayers in the Council Chamber was carried by a large majority at Wednesday's council meeting.

Mayor-elect, Councillor Robin Parker, gave notice in an entry in his Rochdale Online Diary that when he takes over as Mayor in May he will not be having prayers before Council meetings, but the revelation prompted an uproar with Father Paul Daly, Parish Priest of Saint Joseph's RC, Heywood leading the criticism and accusing Councillor Parker of attempting to "banish God from the public arena".

In moving her motion, Councillor Jones painstakingly pointed out she is not seeking to force those who do not want to do so to pray, and she also said she accepts that prayer is often something people do privately. However, she appealed to councillors to recognise the importance of a few moments of quiet meditation before council meetings and asked councillors to respect those who during this time seek inspiration from a higher authority.

She added to applause form all parties in the chamber: "We cannot afford something so important."

Conservative Leader, Councillor Ashley Dearnley, supported but sought to amend Councillor Jones motion explaining his belief that whilst not demanding attendance he believes councillors should set a good example by being in the chamber during civic prayer time - though not mentioning names, Councillor Dearnley was clearly referring to the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems, Councillors Alan Taylor and Irene Davidson, who make a point of remaining outside the chamber until the Mayor's chaplain has finished saying prayers. Councillor Dearnley likened such "silly gestures" to the sort of pointless protests often made in the 70s. He said he hoped with his amendment to encourage all councillors to be in the chamber form the start of meetings, including during civic prayers.

Councillor Davidson acknowledged the sentiment and said she would in future think very seriously about attending during prayers. Even Councillor Allen Brett, attending his final full council meeting before his impending retirement from elected politics next week, who calls himself an "atheist agnostic", said he respected the positions of Councillors Jones and Dearnley on the matter, and though he would not prayer himself, he is in attendance during prayers. He did though add that he would always stand up for the right of others to do as they choose, saying that such decisions are a matter of conscience.

Perhaps surprisingly, Councillor Jones, who paraphrased Martin Luther King in saying she "'I have a dream' that all councillors will be in the chamber for civic prayers by choice", said she hesitated to support the Conservative amendment as she was not in favour of any compulsion.

In a truly refreshing change, councillors were actually trusted by their party leaders to think and decide for themselves how to vote - now there is divine intervention! – and they did so firstly on the Conservative amendment by a large majority with 31 in favour, 18 against and 2 abstentions. The vote then on the amended motion (known in council speak as the substantive motion) was even more conclusive, and again across party lines, with 37 for the prayers continuing, 12 against and 4 abstentions.