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On October 27, 2010, I reported that the Canon Chancellor, the Revd Dr Giles Fraser, stood down from his position at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Possible legal action against the protesters persuaded him to resign. As to the sensitivity of asking the protesters to leave — something which can only be done in joint co-operation between St Paul’s and the Corporation of London
Stuart Fraser, chair of the Corporation’s policy and resources committee, told the Daily Telegraph: “I understand why it would be difficult for the Church to be associated with a clearance, which may not be peaceful.
“An application for an injunction will no doubt be challenged.”
The following day, the Revd Fraser Dyer, a cathedral chaplain
followed in the footsteps of Rev Dr Giles Fraser, the Canon Chancellor, and resigned from his position, citing “disappointment” at the decision to pursue legal action against the activists.
My, what a lot of Frasers!
Fraser Dyer wrote in his resignation letter:
I do not relish the prospect of having to defend the cathedral’s position in the face of the inevitable questions that visitors to St Paul’s will pose in the coming weeks and months, particularly if we are to see protesters forcibly removed by police at the Dean and Chapter’s behest.
And, there could be more resignations. The same Telegraph article reporting Mr Dyer’s resignation also stated that
another senior figure, Canon Mark Oakley, a member of the Chapter, may also consider his position untenable, having voted against going to court to evict the demonstrators.
He told this newspaper’s Mandrake column: “I couldn’t vote for any course of action that might lead at some point to violent behaviour.”
St Paul’s has since reopened, but the controversy over whether the protesters should be allowed to stay continues. David Cameron, speaking from Australia, said that no one had the ‘right’ and ‘freedom’ to protest no matter where. Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor of London, suggested turning on sprinklers around the cathedral in the early hours of the morning.
It isn’t as if the protesters at St Paul’s are devout Christians. The Telegraph highlighted a few of the offences they committed on the cathedral grounds:
Ten arrests have been made at the camp since October 15, for public order offences, possession of drugs and a knife and an assault on a police officer.
One protester, Nigel McCorkell, 43, was handed a community sentence yesterday after District Judge Elizabeth Roscoe, sitting at Westminster Magistrate’s Court, said it was important to preserve the right to “legitimate protest”. The unemployed carpenter was arrested for hurling a beer can at police lines.
Leftist Christian organisations supporting Occupy LSX called for:
demands such as the democratisation of the City of London and the abolition of the City’s own police force.
What’s it to do with them? Seriously, these folks are CINOs — Christians in Name Only. I would suggest that they read and reread Romans 13. In His providence, God gave us governors to ensure public order for everyone’s benefit. The City of London police have been using restraint and courtesy during this ongoing protest. Tyrannical government may give rise to actions opposing Romans 13, however, the City has been remarkably lenient towards the protesters.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph reported today that the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres — a likely candidate to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury
addressed the Occupy London activists in a question-and-answer session, telling them that he thought their presence added to the discussion on “the future shape of the world” and he backed the camp’s political message.
The bishop was repeatedly asked to condemn the legal action taken against the protesters by St Paul’s and the Corporation of London. He distanced himself from the decision, insisting that it was a matter for the cathedral clergy alone.
However, just minutes after stepping down from the podium, he hailed the “prudent” decision to seek an injunction against the protesters.
“I can see very clearly that getting the legal situation clear is a sensible precautionary measure,” he said. “I do not subscribe to the idea that it will instantly lead to violence.”
Several protesters later described his stance as “hypocritical”.
So, they will not move on, despite the fact that they have clearly overstayed their welcome.
Well, as I’ve said before, St Paul’s clergy created a rod for their own backs here. Dr Giles Fraser should have allowed the police to clear the protesters when they offered to do so. However, it seems as if he, Fraser Dyer and others thought that it would be a good idea to welcome the group onto their grounds.
I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of the Frasers or their ilk yet. Sadly, they have forgotten the Bible and embraced political protest, whatever the cost to Anglicans.
