A fool says in his heart “there is no God” – and a British court agrees to ban prayers in case they offend him. ALAN FRANKLIN introduces the latest sad episode in the de-Christianization of once-Great Britain.

The Bible beautifully sums up the likes of the British atheist whose pathetic claim of being offended by public prayers has led to a classic anti-prayer ruling in the High Court. Psalm 53:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God," They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice ; There is no one who does good. God knows how to communicate! Not a lot of scope for misunderstanding that is there? ALAN FRANKLIN

The basis for law and good government is The Holy Bible. From the time of King Alfred, justly called Alfred The Great, Biblical concepts have been enshrined in English law- and from England spread around the world during the time of the British Empire. Now we are run by those who hate or are ignorant of the word of God, Christianity is a fast fading influence in once-great Britain. Christianity, whose followers not only crafted our laws but started the country’s first schools and hospitals, is now fast becoming a banned subject. Unless, of course, we stand on the word of God and insist that it will not be silenced.

As we have written in our books, Goodbye America, Goodbye Britain and Cults and Isms: True or False? we believe our nations are under judgment. The reasons are numerous, but include the way we spit in God’s face by condoning the setting up of the shrines of false religion all over our land, once at least basically Christian in moral standards. As Pat and I drove to our church last Sunday, where I was to preach the message, we passed a former British Army chapel. It had been converted to a Hindu meeting place, in deference to the 10,000 or so Nepalese who have flocked to the area after the idiotic campaign by actress Joanna Lumley to get them the “right” to live in Britain. Of course, they have brought their false gods with them.

As fewer people, even those who listen to Sunday sermons, understand the most basic Biblical concepts, it is little wonder that the tide of reason is fast flowing out, taking the Gospel with it. Britain is now post-Christian, neo-pagan- and fast gurgling down the plughole. America and other western nations are in much the same state, so the end times are clearly here and, as the old time placard-bearers rightly stated: the end is nigh. That’s the end of the present world system, the emergence of antichrist and, soon after, the glorious reappearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That will put an end to man’s misrule of this world, misrule detailed in this story from The Daily Mail, London, which we reprint in full below. This paper supplies our news ticker and, while far from perfect, at least has the guts to speak its mind on moral issues, where the so-called “Church of England” is mostly conspicuous for its silence. Here’s the story:

Christianity under attack: Anger as major court rulings go against British worshippers

Town hall prayers banned in 'assault on Britain's Christian heritage'
Judge rules tradition unlawful after he upholds discrimination complaint
Government says it is 'surprised and disappointed' by the decision
Prayers at Parliament and Forces chaplains could be next to be outlawed

By Ian Drury

A landmark legal ruling banning the tradition of saying prayers at council meetings was denounced last night as an ‘assault onBritain’s Christian heritage’.

The High Court controversially backed an anti-religious campaign to abolish official acts of worship.

Christians and politicians reacted with dismay after a judge overturned centuries of custom by outlawing a town hall inDevonfrom putting prayers on the formal agenda.

It prompted concern that it would pave the way for Parliament to abandon prayers before Commons and Lords business, mark the end of hospital and Forces chaplains, and could even lead to the abolition of the Coronation Oath, pledged by Kings andQueenstaking the throne.

The ruling means prayers will not be allowed at the start of council meetings acrossEnglandandWales, though they may still be said before the official start.

It comes as two Christian B&B owners who refused to let a gay couple share a room lost an appeal against a ruling they must pay thousands in compensation to the men.

The Court of Appeal told Peter and Hazel Bull that they were entitled to express their beliefs, but not if they were incompatible with the rights of gay people.

Atheist former councillor Clive Bone started the case against Bideford town council in July 2010, claiming he had been ‘disadvantaged and embarrassed’ when religious prayers were recited at formal meetings.

Backed by the National Secular Society, he insisted that the ‘inappropriate’ practice breached the human right to freedom of conscience and discriminated against non-believers, making them feel ‘uncomfortable’.

The society claimed council meetings should be ‘equally welcoming to everyone in the local community’ and should therefore be ‘religiously-neutral’.

Mr Justice Ouseley, sitting inLondon, rejected the human rights and equality challenges. But he ruled that formal prayers at council meetings were unlawful because of a technicality in the Local Government Act 1972.

He said local authorities had no power to ‘say prayers or to have any period of quiet reflection as part of the business of the council’. Acknowledging the widespread importance of the case, Mr Justice Ouseley gave Bideford council permission to appeal.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles described the ruling as ‘very illiberal’.

He said: ‘The ruling is surprising and disappointing. Christianity plays an important part in the culture, heritage and fabric of our nation.’

He vowed to override the High Court ruling by bringing in the Government’s Localism Act, which would give councils the power to hold prayers at the start of meetings, as early as next Friday.

Simon Calvert, of the Christian Institute, said: ‘Prayers have been a part of council meetings for centuries, and many people, either for religious reasons or cultural reasons, see them as a positive part of our national life.

‘It’s a shame the courts have taken sides with those whose goal is to undermine our Christian heritage. It is high time Parliament put a stop to this assault upon our national heritage.’

Harry Greenway, a former Tory MP and ex-chairman of the National Prayer Breakfast, said: ‘If people do not want to attend prayers of this nature, they can stay away instead of meddling and busybodying with other people’s beliefs.

‘Non-believers are not harassed in this way by believers. Why cannot the non-believers show the same kind of tolerance?’

Mr Bone, who left Bideford council because of its ‘refusal to adjust’ its prayers policy, said: ‘I’m delighted. I’m not surprised, I expected to win.

‘This has got nothing to do with intolerance towards religion. Religious freedom is an absolute right and so is freedom from religion an absolute right, in my view.’

Keith Porteous Wood of the National Secular Society said: ‘We’re very pleased with the judgment.’

Officials at Parliament said the 1689 Bill of Rights meant the Commons and Lords decided their own business, so a legal challenge would fail.