Church prays for ‘all the peoples of Europe’ and asks politicians to debate with grace

WORSHIPPERS at Church of England services will be asked to pray for cooperation with “all the peoples of Europe” in the run-up to the EU referendum.

A new prayer issued by the Church also speaks of the need for politicians and campaigners to show “generosity” and conduct the debate with “grace”.

The 10-line prayer, approved for use in services, steers clear of backing one side or the other in the debate.

It pointedly speaks of the need for people to “work for peace and the common good” but says this applies all across Europe.

Earlier this month the Roman Catholic Bishops of England and Wales urged the faithful to pray for guidance and listen carefully to both sides.

But, speaking in a personal capacity, Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, indicated support for EU membership, arguing that leaving would force Britain to face “more complex” problems alone.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has remained neutral in his public pronouncements on Europe, a stance followed by almost all other leading Church of England clerics.

Among the few to have spoken out is the Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Rev Andrew Watson, who tweeted a message about the “nightmare scenarios” of Britain leaving the EU and Donald Trump becoming US president.

The prayer reads: “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.”

A spokesman for the Church of England said it was a “prayer for everyone” that had been welcomed by Christians on both sides.

Lord Tebbit, who advocates leaving the EU, said: “I regret that there is an element of ambiguity in the prayer which could seem to many that our nations should prosper together with all the peoples of Europe; whereas many of us believe that we should prosper independently.”