Council stops reciting the Lord’s Prayer

By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express

Following a Supreme Court ruling earlier this month, city council has decided to stop reciting the Lord’s Prayer prior to its council meetings, something that had been done since May 2000.

Councillor Bob Chapman says the ruling from Canada’s top court left council with little choice on the matter.

“It’s not about any individuals in this room’s beliefs in whatever religion,” Chapman said during the regular council meeting on Monday. “This is about upholding the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling, which I think we have no choice in the position that we are.”

Councillor Dan Carter said the decision was a challenging one for him and was saddened by the removal of the prayer.

“I have to respect the highest court of the land and I don’t agree with their judgment, but I have to respect it,” he said

The decision earlier this month by the Supreme Court in its judgment – Mouvement laique quebecois v. Saguenay – has created nation-wide discussion and decisions from councils to eliminate or keep the prayer.

Councillor Rick Kerr, a former teacher of world religions at Durham College, said city hall is a place of business and supported the removal of the prayer.

“We conduct the public’s business, all the public…everybody who comes into this room must feel included, not excluded,” Kerr said. “I firmly believed it is the right thing to do.”

The only councillor voting against the motion was John Neal, who said he couldn’t see the reasoning in support the motion.

“I don’t see the grounds in an individual councillor in supporting this,” he said.

Mayor John Henry, who is previously on record stating that Oshawa council would continue to recite the prayer until complaints were received, said the decision was a hard one for him as well.

“I said we would continue until there was some complaints and we received some complaints and we were forced to deal with those complaints,” Henry says.

“I still feel that while you can respect the law as it’s written, it’s how you feel inside. It was a challenging vote for me,” he added.

Mayor Henry added that upon legal advice, this was the only option available to avoid potential litigation the city would have no chance of winning.

“It’s not about creating another lawsuit in the city of Oshawa where the taxpayers in the end will have to pay the bills.”

Durham regional council has also made moves on the decision to stop or continue reciting the Lord’s Prayer prior to their meetings, with the latest meeting of the council being started with a moment of quiet reflection instead.

The topic will be discussed at the regional council retreat at Nestleton Waters Inn in Scugog on June 23.