UK Parliament / Open data

Public Order Bill

Proceeding contribution from Ashley Dalton (Labour) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 7 March 2023. It occurred during Debate on bills on Public Order Bill.

I would like the hon. Member to help me understand why it is particularly important that prayer must be carried out openly, publicly and ostentatiously. Most often, if we pray, no one else will know that we are doing it. He briefly referred to the Bible and to Daniel in the lion’s den. I draw his attention to Matthew, chapter 6, verses 5 and 6:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others…But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”

Is it not possible to do that privately, without intimidating others by doing it ostentatiously and publicly?

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
729 c224 
Session
2022-23
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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