ADDRESSING the monthly meeting of Bass Coast Council, Wonthaggi resident Karen Thorp broke with recent tradition and recited The Lord’s Prayer in council chambers.
On behalf of the 194 people who signed a petition seeking reinstatement of The Lord’s Prayer to council proceedings, Mrs Thorp spoke passionately about her beliefs.
“It’s a very simple prayer,” said Mrs Thorp.
“It is for everyone, it’s seeking blessing, it’s seeking wisdom from God, and it’s offering forgiveness, also acknowledging the source of our moral law.”
“Our Father, who art in heaven,” began Mrs Thorp.
At the completion of the prayer Mrs Thorp said the petition from citizens of Bass Coast Shire drew attention to the error of removing The Lord’s Prayer from the order of business at council meetings in 2014.
The petitioners requested that The Lord’s Prayer be reinstated as a reading at the commencement of proceedings of Bass Coast Council as soon as possible.
“The merit of saying The Lord’s Prayer is the action of publicly acknowledging the responsibility one has to the people they are serving,” said Mrs Thorp.
Acknowledging Mrs Thorp’s words in support of the petition Cr Ron Bauer said he could not state strongly enough how against the petition he was.
“This is a multi-cultural country. There are 1500 religions or belief systems on the planet. Each one as relevant as the next, including atheism.”
“I do not see why we should privilege one over the other,” said Cr Bauer.
“Let’s leave prayers and praying in the church and concentrate on the business of council in council,” he said.
Cr Tim O’Brien was also opposed to the petition.
“Australia is a secular country, and at the last census only 43 per cent of Australians identified themselves as Christians, we’ve got multiple religions being practised.”
Cr O’Brien said he had no doubt the petitioners were sincere.
“But using The Lord’s Prayer to publicly acknowledge the responsibility one has to the people they are serving is eyewash,” he said.
“It feels to me like it is just making mischief.”
Cr Meg Edwards called for a division when it came to a vote on the petition.
Voting in favour of continuing the current practice of opening council meetings with a councillor statement were Cr Temby, Cr Tessari, Cr Halstead, Cr Bauer, Cr Morgan, Cr O’Brien, Cr Bell and Cr Thompson, Cr Meg Edwards disagreed with a dissenting vote.
Disappointed, Karen Thorp said the mischievousness was in 2014 when Bass Coast Shire Council removed The Lord’s Prayer from the order of business without community consultation.
