British Town Council Concerned With Propriety of Opening Prayer

Contention over opening city council meetings with sectarian prayer has now made its way to Britain. This Is London reported yesterday that the National Association of Local Councils has advised the town council in Bideford, North Devon that its 400 year old tradition of opening meetings with a prayer may run afoul of Britain's Race Discrimination Act and its Human Rights Act. It may also violate Art. 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Town clerk George McLauchlan had asked the NALC for advice after one member of council proposed eliminating the prayer.