Submitted by Max
From The NZ Herald
Blessings erode our secular bedrock
By Brian Rudman
Wednesday Sep 7, 2011
Brian Rudman writes that a proliferation of religious ceremonies in civic life is at odds with our democracy.
With the epidemic of blessings that has erupted as the rugby circus draws nigh, jet-lagged visitors could be forgiven for thinking the pilot had taken a wrong turning and landed in the Vatican Republic by mistake.
I wouldn't be surprised to hear that some enterprising entrepreneur had installed a coin-in-the slot blessing booth in the overseas arrivals terminal at Auckland Airport, royalties to the International Rugby Board, of course.
Yesterday morning it was blessings at dawn again. This time the target was Tourism New Zealand's gigantic, much-travelled blow-up rugby ball, all pumped and ready for action down on Queens Wharf.
At the weekend, the blessers were busy at the All Blacks' official welcome in Aotea Square, blessing the team's dinky little school cap-like head gear.
Full Story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10749834
