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LINK Canada's government rejects motion to end daily prayer in House of Commons

An attempt to get rid of the ritualistic prayer that opens up House of Commons sessions in Canada’s Parliament was voted down yesterday despite strong arguments against the tradition.

The history of the House of Commons prayer

The 30-second prayer that opens up those sessions has been around since 1877. It was only minimally modified over the next century, like when there was a new king or queen. Only in 1994 was the prayer rewritten to be more non-denominational. But still. Look at it now. This is the basic prayer that begins government proceedings every day:

Almighty God, we give thanks for the great blessings which have been bestowed on Canada and its citizens, including the gifts of freedom, opportunity and peace that we enjoy. We pray for our Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, and the Governor General. Guide us in our deliberations as Members of Parliament, and strengthen us in our awareness of our duties and responsibilities as Members. Grant us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to preserve the blessings of this country for the benefit of all and to make good laws and wise decisions. Amen.

Even though the prayer doesn’t specify a religion, it’s clearly assuming the existence of a monotheistic God. And make no mistake: It’s referring to the Christian one. The prayer also implies that elected officials need to look to a higher power, rather than to themselves, to make the right decisions for their constituents.

snytiger6 9 May 12
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