Politicians and the Lord’s Prayer

The Ontario government is asking for the public’s views on whether or not to continue reciting the Lord’s Prayer in the Legislature. CBC reports:

TORONTO – The Lord’s Prayer and it’s fate in the Ontario legislature set off a fresh round of debate Thursday after politicians quietly launched public consultation on whether the province should fall in line with other Canadian jurisdictions and strike the Christian tradition.

As an all-party committee prepares to hear from hundreds of faith groups, atheists, and members of the public, there is already a clear division between those who think opening the daily proceedings with the Lord’s Prayer is outdated and those who consider it a vital Ontario tradition.

I belong to a group that’s written to urge politicians to keep the Lord’s Prayer in the legislature – a move that I’m struggling with.

Why ask politicians to pray the Lord’s Prayer as a tradition? This seems to be the type of prayer that Jesus warned against in the same passage: insincere and for show. It invites our politicians to engage in hypocritical prayer, or at least rote prayer. I’d much rather see a moment of silence.

I’m not arguing for the removal of faith from public life, but I’m suggesting that we don’t want people who aren’t disciples forced to pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. Thoughts? Am I wrong?