The long standing tradition of praying before each Edmonton council meeting has come to an end.
Council voted to suspend its usual prayer service until June, while administration reviews the implications of a recent Supreme Court decision that ruled against religion in municipal meetings.
In a unanimous decision, the court said the practice of starting municipal meetings in Saguenay, Quebec, with a Catholic prayer was an infringement of freedom of religion and conscience rights.
“The state must instead remain neutral in this regard,” the judgement read.
Instead of the usual prayer, council began its meeting Tuesday with a moment of silence.
“It’s good to start the meeting with humility and reflection, regardless of what the Supreme Court says,” said Mayor Don Iveson.
Unlike Saguenay, Edmonton’s council invites many faiths to bring greetings and prayers to city hall. However, in the last year only six of 20 prayers were non-Christian.
Coun. Michael Walters, Bryan Anderson, and Mike Nickel all voted against the suspension.
They’ll have a chance to debate the practice of praying before meetings at an upcoming executive committee meeting.
More to come
