I AM writing to you in response to the article in last week's Times, 'Meeting prayers are "intolerable", says society' in which you report that lawyers acting for the National Secular Society have sent a letter to West Devon Borough Council advising it that prayers during council meetings are in conflict with human rights provisions.
I would like to point out to your readers and West Devon Borough Councillors that the National Secular Society is a very small organisation — its national membership would not fill the seating capacity of Exeter Cathedral — and is completely out of touch with the feelings and opinions of the majority of the population of this nation and, dare I say it, with the majority of voters in the West Devon area.
Although there has been a marked reduction in the numbers attending organised church services in recent years, that does not mean there has been the same reduction in the beliefs and the prayers of the majority of our fellow citizens. Recent national polls have showed a constant majority of people in our nation to have a 'spiritual awareness of God through His son Jesus Christ' and to make their daily prayers and intercessions to him. When taking christenings, weddings and funerals I am always made aware of this and it really does repudiate the nonsense put out by minority organisations like the National Secular Society.
Why should councils and councillors not carry out the centuries old Christian tradition of praying to God our Father, as taught to us by His Son Jesus Christ, when the majority of the nation continue to offer similar prayers on a daily basis?
If West Devon Borough Council and its Leader really want to take advice on this matter they should consult with their constituents and not with organisations like the National Secular Society and other supposedly 'politically correct' bedfellows,
The Rev Geoff Lloyd
Rural Dean of Tavistock
YOUR feature "Meeting prayers are 'intolerable', says society", appears to apply to the National Secular Society only. They have been perfectly 'tolerable' in the country for the past thousand years or more. How can they 'conflict with human rights provisions?'
This is a Christian country, with an established church headed by a Christian queen. Not only local authorities commence their proceedings with prayer, but also the House of Lords and House of Commons likewise.
The lawyers acting for this secular group should start with them, not West Devon that has one of the highest levels of practising Christians in the country. During last year churches and places of worship have been packed.
The crushing of Christianity has been tried at national level on many occasions, the latest being Hitler, Stalin and Mao Tse Tung. At every attempt the church has survived and increased. China is currently recording fifteen thousand converts a day.
The National Secular Society may be doing us a favour.
Brian Hughes
Kirkella Road
Yelverton