From Dr Tim Hudson
Sir, - Jake Berry MP says that his Private Member's Bill to
"enshrine in law the right for local councils to start meetings
with prayers" is not attempting to impose either the Church of
England or any particular faith (News,
28 November).
What the Bill is clearly intended to allow, however, is the
imposing of the worship of God ("whose service", as we know from
the Prayer Book, "is perfect freedom") on councillors who actively
don't want it. Is that truly a generous, or a Christian,
initiative?
Mr Berry also fears that under present arrangements councils
might be required to cease their involvement in Remembrance
Sundays. But even people of faith must feel a little uneasy about
the way religion dominates in our annual acts of Remembrance -
especially when you consider how keenly many clergy, including
bishops, endorsed the slaughter of the First World War.
It is worth recalling that both the London Cenotaph and the
cemeteries of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission were
explicitly designed as secular memorials, so as to reflect the
grief of all the bereaved, whether religious or not.
Public acts of Remembrance should surely be neutral space,
outside and separate from acts of worship, for the very same
reason.
TIM HUDSON
7 Hawthorn Close
Chichester
West Sussex PO19 3DZ