A group of MPs thinks there might be something missing from Parliament: a chapel for saying prayers.
Since
the parliamentary elections in 2010, MPs of the newly formed
conservative right-wing party TOP 09, including TOP 09 MP group leader
Petr Gazdík, have been mulling over this idea. Now that idea seems to be
gaining momentum. In a
country that is noted for being one of the most secular in the world -
with just 13 percent of the population expressing a religious
affiliation - the proposal does not come without controversy.
(source Prague Post)
"As mayor I got used to
popping to a nearby church before meetings that called for challenging
decision making, since mental hygiene is immensely useful and helps make
the right decision," said Gazdík, a practicing Catholic.
Some
Czech MPs have regular prayer breakfast meetings on the first Thursday
of each month, where available preachers give sermons or advice. In the
United States, Congress houses a chaplain's office. The chaplain
officially opens each Senate session and is available to lawmakers for
counseling. On the other hand, France's secular constitution prevents
any religious activity from taking place within Parliament or
parliamentary proceedings.
Gazdík said his idea was inspired by, among other things, a visit to the German Bundestag, where there is a chapel.
While
Gazdík acknowledges there are a number of churches a few steps from
Parliament, he said most are either full of tourists or closed during
most hours in fear of robberies. Chamber of Deputies Speaker Miroslava
Němcová (Civic Democrats, ODS) has not agreed to the proposal, but
Gazdík said she has not rejected it outright either.
Tomáš
Halík, a professor at Charles University and pastor at Old Town's St.
Salvator church, calls the chapel proposal an "outstanding idea."
"I
imagine deputies who are not churchgoers could appreciate it, since
bearing the weight of responsible decision making often requires a quiet
place dedicated to thinking in peace and quiet," he said.
He added such places are common abroad, and noted visiting a chapel at the European Parliament in Brussels. "If
such a space could contribute even a miniscule amount of enlightenment
to a number of our lawmakers, it would be a great investment," he said.
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