“Moment of reflection” causes offence

Totnes Town Council in Devon used to begin each session with a Christian prayer led by a local clergyman. This has now been repplaced by a “quiet moment of reflection” in an attempt to “bring it into the 21st century”.

Mayor Pru Boswell said:

We are trying to reflect the different needs of different councillors. It is nothing to do with being politically correct.

Of course, The Daily Express has spun this act of inclusion into a political-correctness-gone-mad story by claiming the prayers were scrapped “to allay fears they may offend other religions”.

And they got a nice quote from Stephen “Dog Shit” Green:

A decision like this is very unhelpful for people of other faiths because it causes tensions where there were none before.

Note the veiled threat behind “is very unhelpful for people of other faiths”. Unhelpful how? Because it “causes tensions where there were none before”? Oh, you mean it makes Christian bigots like you angry.

Sometimes that man sounds just like a Danish imam.


10 Responses to ““Moment of reflection” causes offence”

  1. Jim Barker says:

    But town, district and county councillor Geoff Date said he was “astounded” that the prayers had been axed.

    “It is probably one of the longest traditions the council can lay claim to – and one of the most important things we do,” he said.

    That must be reassuring to the taxpayers of Totnes. Never mind the bins, here’s the God-bothering.

  2. Shaun Hollingworth says:

    Never mind just axeing the prayers… What about those councillors who still want them, as well ?

  3. Tiger Dunc says:

    Drowning witches and wrecking ships were probably long traditions as well. Stuff the people of other faiths, what about the rationalists of no faith at all? How insulting is it to them to have to waste their time indulging someone else’s primitive superstitions?

  4. Stuart says:

    Stephen Green doesn’t like people causing tension unnecessarily? Since when?

  5. Steve says:

    Now you are just insulting Danish Imams.

  6. Marc says:

    Actually, Green has bigger things to worry about if tonight’s “The News Quiz” on BBC R4 is anything to go by. ‘-). Get it while you still can (if it is on listen-again) because it won’t be for long.

  7. Andy A says:

    ‘Get it while you still can (if it is on listen-again) because it won’t be for long.’

    In cae anyone reads thie before 12.30 p.m. Saturday, you can hear the repeat then.

  8. Nick says:

    It’s still ther so get it while you can as they take it off after six days. Oh, will that piss Green off. Wonderful….

  9. Marc says:

    Someone really should record it… probably not legal, but moments in free speech like this should be preserved just in case Big Brother Green et al ever win…

  10. jb says:

    You all sound like Danish imans yourselves.
    Who is Stephen Green?
    Is what the Guardian says important?
    I cannot claim to be a Christian as that would mean renouncing sin. I dont get much chance to sin these days but I like to keep my options open.