KEY POINTS:
Adopting Canberra's government statement to replace the prayer at the start of Parliament sittings may keep Christian and secular people happy, Green MP Keith Locke says.
Mr Locke said the statement retained the option to pray but allowed non-believers and adherents of different faiths the option of reflection.
Today Prime Minister Helen Clark distanced herself and the Labour Party from an initiative to review the use of the Christian prayer that starts each sitting.
Last month Speaker Margaret Wilson wrote to MPs asking if they thought the prayer should be scrapped or altered -- perhaps removing the reference to Jesus Christ.
Mr Locke said the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) parliament changed its prayer to a statement in 1995.
"In the Australia Capital Territory they have a little statement at the beginning of each session; 'members, at the beginning of this sitting of the assembly I would ask members to stand in silence and prayer or reflect on our responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territories'."
Mr Locke believed the change accommodated Christian views while respecting diversity.
"It's an option that would perhaps accommodate those people who don't want a prayer taken out of things altogether," he said.
"To me if you are talking about honesty and integrity in Parliament, it just grates every day when people... who are not necessarily religious themselves are forced to be part of either recite or be part of a prayer that isn't their own particular approach to life, belief."
The present situation was unfair to non-believers but also to those of different faiths.
"In terms of setting a model for a more inclusive secular society Parliament should try and set the model rather than be behind the play."
Mr Locke accepted the timing for a change was sensitive given the backlash the Government has faced from the Christian community over changes to the law around child discipline.
"I think that might be one of the things behind Helen Clark's view that's why I think perhaps this option that does include praying within it but is not restricted to that might go some way (to relieve concerns)."
This morning Miss Clark made it clear that Ms Wilson's actions were not in any way prompted by the Government.
She said the time was not right for a debate on the issue.
"Certainly I've had no part in initiating any such debate and neither has the Labour Party," she said on Newstalk ZB.
"It's nothing the Labour Party has initiated -- let me underline this -- frankly I've got more important things to think about."
Miss Clark said she thought most MPs would not want the traditional prayer changed.
Destiny church leader Brian Tamaki has said changing the prayer would be an affront to tradition and New Zealand's "founding values".
However, Labour MP Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, who is a Christian, has supporting changing the prayer to include religions other than Christianity.
Ms Wilson will report her findings to the standing order committee, which sets Parliament's rules. The cross-party committee will ultimately decide whether the prayer should stay or go.
- NZPA
