Canadian Man Sues to Stop 'Anguish' of Lord's Prayer

A Canadian man is suing his local government to stop the recitation of the Lord's Prayer before council meetings, claiming the practice causes him "anguish, discrimination, exclusion, rejection and loss of enjoyment of life," the Religion News Service reports. Peter Ferguson, a nonbeliever from Ontario who says the prayer breaches his constitutional rights, is also seeking $5,000 in damages. "My distress from this discrimination, exclusion and rejection have reduced my ability to enjoy living and participating in a democratic country and in municipal affairs," he said. "This has nothing to do with my personal beliefs. I care about the law. I care about being fair." He added that he had been trying for over a year to persuade his local government to stop turning council meetings into a "Christian zone." A local spokesman said the council hoped to avoid a legal battle and would try to make a decision "that is reasonable but also respectful of Grey County's heritage, and also respectful of cost to the taxpayer."