Opening prayers continue at city hall
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/05/2015 (3874 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Opening prayers will continue to be a feature at Winnipeg city council meetings.
Council opted to continue the practice, following legal advice on a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that found reciting only a Catholic prayer at a council meeting was unconstitutional.
Mayor Brian Bowman said it was the advice of the city’s legal department that the Supreme Court ruling did not apply to Winnipeg, which allows members of council to base their opening statements on any faith or any other inspirational source.
“One of the things that is very different here ….is the inclusive nature of our opening statements and our prayer, as it’s formally known,” Bowman told reporters. “I’m comfortable with allowing councillors the freedom to express themselves however they so choose.”
St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes gave the opening prayer at Wednesday’s council meeting, which he said was inspired by a Jewish phrase “that talks about our shared social responsibility to repair and heal the world,” and a prayer from the Koran: “Lord, inspire us to be thankful for the blessings you have granted us and our parents and to do good deeds that please you.”