WHAT a nonsense! Are our councillors to be treated differently to schoolchildren who are allowed to withdraw from religious school assemblies if they are of a different faith? (Leader wades into prayer row, Gazette,July 9).
Community cohesion and respect for other religions (both of which I strongly support) do not mean one
has to be present at the prayers of a religion other than one's own. Indeed, being present and not participating could be construed as hypocrisy.
Surely, representing voters does not imply any religious obligation, and I wonder why the council has Christian prayers anyway.
Religion is a matter for the individual, not for a body of electors or for that matter a body of council-lors.
The views I have expressed are my own, but I am proud to be part of Hillingdon Interfaith Network and I believe that understanding and respecting faith (or non faith) of others is the key to community cohesion.
Unlike the three Labour councillors, I have not been coerced into attending religious ceremonies of any faith.
MRS. V MELLOR, Moor Park Road, Northwood.
