Wait...let me turn it down...

As they took their seats on a cool Tuesday night, Councillors of Wellington Town Council took their seats for a nights work. Customary was the recital of The Lords Prayer before proceeding with official work. However, on this occasion, events would go down a different course. It is claimed by a Councillor that Mr Pat McCarthy was listening to his iPod while The Lords Prayer was recited. The melodic tunes of Bob Dylan were apparently heard coming from Mr McCarthy's direction have been described as 'disgusting' behaviour by his accuser. Never the less, this is not the start of the issue. A month earlier Mr McCarthy brought the issue up and wished to have the Prayer removed from proceedings. He considered it out-dated and nothing to do with governmental activities. It was however claimed by Rt Rev Mark Rylands last month that: "The saying of prayers before meetings is an integral part of the British system of government."

Frankly, the very existence of this issue is an embarrassment for Wellington Town Council and that of any other Council with has similarly proceedings. There should be no reason for any such conflict of interest. It is a well established and understood construct that religion and politics have no business being practiced in the same establishment. G_d has no place in the halls of power except in his own heavenly domain. Those offended by the actions of Mr McCarthy should not resend his right to abstain from events. His desire to be present at the beginning of proceedings demonstrates his commitment to his elected responsibility. Whether he was Atheist, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or any other religious persuasion should not be ridiculed for his actions. In any case, Rt Rev Mark Rylands had no right to air criticism since he is judging without being judged himself. Whether it be an iPod, mobile or PC he was using, he acted within his own right as an individual outwith the control of an organised religion. Politics and Religion, two parts of the superstructure which should not be combined, has demonstrated here that they should never come together.