Across New Zealand, 58 regional, district and city councils start their meetings with some sort of blessing, 18 do not. Among those who use some form of blessing, 13 pray, 26 say a karakia, 19 use a mix of both or another blessing and 18 don’t use anything. Massey University’s Professor Peter Lineham, whose research Read more
Parliament could get a new prayer after the election in September. A review of standing orders, the rules that MPs must adhere to, was published this week, putting the prayer back on the agenda. The review recommends MPs be asked their views on changing the prayer read by the Speaker at the opening of a Read more
I’ve been thinking about the most wonderful keyhole in the world as debates about public prayer have been on the agenda of city council meetings in Bideford, England and Whanganui, New Zealand. To look through this keyhole you have to go to Rome and walk up the Aventine Hill until you get to the front door of Read more