For the first time ever today, Grey County council opened their meeting with a new, neutral prayer -- instead of the Lord's Prayer.

And Bruce-Grey-Owen-Sound MP Larry Miller says it's time to get up and say something about what's happening.

As we've reported to you already, Kimberley resident Peter Ferguson has launched a lawsuit against the county, claiming that the Lord's Prayer is unconstitutional because it violates religious freedom.

Council has now adopted the same prayer said in the House of Commons -- and Ferguson doesn't like this version either.

But Miller says the rights of the majority are being trampled to satisfy someone who doesn't agree with a prayer that most people have no issue with.

Miller says the Lord's Prayer was never intended to offend anybody --- and council has been open to saying prayers that other religions may bring forth.

He says we can't keep appeasing the minority because they "whine" to get their way.

Miller says as a Grey County taxpayer, it offends him that council has to use tax dollars to fight a lawsuit.

However, he says he respects how council has handled the issue this far.

Miller feels there are a lot of people that think the way he does, and he calls them the "silent majority."

He says it's time those who are concerned start writing letters to their local council, so the concerns can be heard by the county.

Miller says Grey County does not need to apologize to anybody for the stance they have taken against what he says is the "erosion of tradition."

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Below is a copy of the Editorial from Bruce Grey Owen Sound MP Larry Miller

Too often we are all guilty of just sitting idly by and grumbling to ourselves or to our friends about things happening around us that we know are just plain wrong. We do this I believe, because we get busy or we naively think to ourselves: This can't really be happening. Or we presume common sense will prevail and all will return to normal. Well, sometimes common sense does not prevail and that is the topic of this article.

For months now, we have had to suffer and listen to how reciting the Lords Prayer at Grey County Council has somehow bruised the rights of one of its residents and of how the county is now being sued in order to get it to stop this terrible injustice.

Its high time that all of you who have contacted me concerned about this issue (myself included) got off our collective fannies and publicly display our feelings. We live in a democracy, but when the rights of the majority are trampled to satisfy someone who doesn't agree with something the majority has no issue with, it makes me wonder how solid our democracy really is. Human rights commissions are a good (or bad) example of how the rights of the majority are totally ignored to satisfy the whining minority. But that’s a whole other story for another day.

Tradition is something that we should all be proud of. Tradition can be of a cultural nature, a family tradition, religious or linguistic traditions or one of many other traditions too numerous to mention. If something aint broken, don't fix it.

Is the present practice really hurting anyone or anything? If the answer is no (and it is no) than things should stay as they are. If the answer is yes than alterations or changes should be considered.

So let’s look in depth at this dirty, shameful, practice the county carries out at the start of each monthly meeting.

Because the county is much more diverse than it used to be, the county, to its credit, has adapted by being inclusive with its prayers. While maintaining its tradition of the lords prayer, it has offered the opportunity for anyone else, of any other faith, to come forth with their own prayer. What more could be expected? To my knowledge, no other faith has come forth with an alternative prayer at this time.

If Grey County dug in their heels and refused to allow other religions or beliefs the chance to have their prayer, then of course that could be considered discriminatory by some. But that is not the case.

In this world of “political correctness” gone awry, anybody can stand up (or sign an affidavit) and declare how their rights are being trampled, kicked around etc.

But let’s be real here. As long as the county of grey or any other municipality offers the opportunity to all religions – then nobody “truthfully” can declare that they are being discriminated against.

There is an old saying about people having their “fifteen minutes of fame” (or is it fifteen minutes of shame) You decide which is the case here, but regardless, their fifteen minutes is up.

As Tony Ballard spelled out in a letter in the Suntimes on Aug 31st – the province of Ontario opens their session with the Lords Prayer. If its good enough for our province then it should be good enough for our county.

I am a taxpayer in Grey County and I am deeply offended that my taxes should have to be spent to defend a long tradition that is being threatened. A tradition that is a part of what and who we are and absolutely offends no one. However, the county has my full support to spend my tax dollars in any way it sees fit on this lawsuit.

Enough is enough. This country was founded on Christian principles and whether we actively practice religion in our lives or not, those Christian principles are still a good thing. Those principals are about respect, manners, moral values etc.

If you care about this enough, contact your Mayor or Deputy Mayor and let them know so they can take your concerns to county council. Write letters to the editor. Don't allow this to happen if you feel as strongly about this as many of you say you do.

Grey County need not apologize to anybody, anywhere, for having the fortitude to take a stand against the erosion of traditions or practices that have made us what we are today.

Larry Miller