This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/26/church-of-england-issues-eu-referendum-prayer-european-union

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Church of England issues EU referendum prayer Church of England issues EU referendum prayer
(35 minutes later)
The Church of England has issued a prayer for the EU referendum, which asks for honesty, openness, generosity and discernment in considering the choice faced by voters on 23 June.The Church of England has issued a prayer for the EU referendum, which asks for honesty, openness, generosity and discernment in considering the choice faced by voters on 23 June.
The nine-line prayer was released without comment by the church. However, according to a source, the text went through many iterations to ensure that it was scrupulously neutral. “There is no secret message,” the source said.The nine-line prayer was released without comment by the church. However, according to a source, the text went through many iterations to ensure that it was scrupulously neutral. “There is no secret message,” the source said.
The prayer appeals for “grace to debate the issues in this referendum with honesty and openness”. It seeks generosity for those who seek to form opinions and discernment for those who vote.The prayer appeals for “grace to debate the issues in this referendum with honesty and openness”. It seeks generosity for those who seek to form opinions and discernment for those who vote.
It also asks that “with all the peoples of Europe we may work for peace and the common good”. The prayer is intended for use by individuals and in churches. It asks that “with all the peoples of Europe we may work for peace and the common good”. The prayer is intended for use by individuals and in churches.
Last month, the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the most senior cleric in the C of E, said there was no correct Christian view about the referendum. “My hope and prayer is that we have a really visionary debate about what our country looks like,” he said.Last month, the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the most senior cleric in the C of E, said there was no correct Christian view about the referendum. “My hope and prayer is that we have a really visionary debate about what our country looks like,” he said.
David Hamid, the C of E’s suffragen bishop in Europe, told the Guardian it was “tricky” for the church to take a stand on a hotly contested political matter. “The C of E is a national church and has to serve all people of the nation regardless of their political orientation. The church has to be seen as neutral.” David Hamid, the C of E’s suffragen bishop in Europe, told the Guardian it was tricky for the church to take a stand on a hotly contested political matter. “The C of E is a national church and has to serve all people of the nation regardless of their political orientation. The church has to be seen as neutral.”
However, he added, he was “very much in favour” of Britain remaining in the EU. “I serve a diocese with a large number of UK passport holders in Europe. They live the benefits of EU membership and see the advantages of the UK being connected to a wider European community.”However, he added, he was “very much in favour” of Britain remaining in the EU. “I serve a diocese with a large number of UK passport holders in Europe. They live the benefits of EU membership and see the advantages of the UK being connected to a wider European community.”
There was also a Christian basis at stake, he said. “We mustn’t lose the sight of the fact that the founding principle of the EU was a desire by nations to put behind them the legacy of centuries of warfare.”There was also a Christian basis at stake, he said. “We mustn’t lose the sight of the fact that the founding principle of the EU was a desire by nations to put behind them the legacy of centuries of warfare.”
None of the major faith groups in the UK have adopted a formal position on the referendum.None of the major faith groups in the UK have adopted a formal position on the referendum.
However, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the leader of the Catholic church in England and Wales, gave a strong indication of his support for remaining in the EU earlier this month, saying there was a “long tradition in Christianity, and in Catholicism in particular, of believing in holding things together”.However, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the leader of the Catholic church in England and Wales, gave a strong indication of his support for remaining in the EU earlier this month, saying there was a “long tradition in Christianity, and in Catholicism in particular, of believing in holding things together”.
He said if the poll resulted in Brexit “we would be facing more complex problems … than we would by playing an active and vigorous part with partners, with the EU”. He said if the poll resulted in Brexit, “we would be facing more complex problems … than we would by playing an active and vigorous part with partners, with the EU”.
The prayerThe prayer
God of truth, give us grace to debate the issues in this referendum with honesty and openness. Give generosity to those who seek to form opinion and discernment to those who vote, that our nation may prosper and that with all the peoples of Europe we may work for peace and the common good; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.God of truth, give us grace to debate the issues in this referendum with honesty and openness. Give generosity to those who seek to form opinion and discernment to those who vote, that our nation may prosper and that with all the peoples of Europe we may work for peace and the common good; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.Amen.