MPPs Keep Christian Prayer, Add New Ones

June 13, 2008

Author: Murray Campbell

Source: The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080613.ONTPRAYER13/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/

The Ontario Legislature will retain the recitation of the Lord's Prayer to begin its daily proceedings, but supplement it with the prayers of other major faiths.

MPPs voted unanimously yesterday to change procedures after receiving a report from an all-party committee that had studied the alternatives to the government's controversial proposal to scrap the Christian prayer.

"I think it's an excellent result that better reflects the diversity in Ontario," said government House Leader Michael Bryant.

Under the new plan, likely to be implemented on Monday, the daily reading of the Lord's Prayer by the Speaker will continue, but will be supplemented by a rotating series of seven prayers of other faiths, a non-denominational prayer and a moment of silence.