Town Council prayers 'unlawful'

A Devon town council has been acting "unlawfully" by listing prayers on its meeting agendas, the National Secular Society told the High Court.It said it was inappropriate for Bideford Town Council to bring religion into a "secular environment" where civic business was being dealt with.Society officials are challenging the practice in what could be a test case. The council has not yet commented in the hearing but previously said it would defend its case. The society is acting on behalf of atheist councillor Clive Bone, who had previously tried but failed, to have the prayers stopped. Mr Bone said he was "disadvantaged and embarrassed" when Christian prayers were said at the start of meetings. David Wolfe, representing the society, told the High Court on Friday that prayers were "only an issue because they are part of the formal agenda". He added: "We say the conduct of holding prayers within the formal part of the meeting is an unlawful practice." Society lawyers argue that council members of no religion are being indirectly discriminated against without justification. They say that the council's insistence on prayers being said breaches articles nine and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.