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| The Bishop of London: ''Nobody wants violence and that is absolutely clear'' |
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There is
"no use for violent confrontation" with protesters outside St Paul's
Cathedral, the Bishop of London has said.
Dr Richard
Chartres met demonstrators camped outside to discuss their views.
In an
address Dr Chartres told protesters, who fear forcible removal, he shared many
of their concerns on corporate greed.
However, he
stopped short of agreeing to protesters' demands for a promise not to support
eviction.
Legal
action to clear the camp is being taken but that process could take months to
complete.
'Benefit of the doubt'
"I
have spoken to police and... I do not think we are on the inevitable road to
violence," said Dr Chartres.
"Getting
the legal situation clear is probably a sensible precautionary measure."
St Paul's
reopened on Friday after closing for a week, for the first time since WWII,
because of health and safety concerns of cathedral authorities.
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| Dr Chartres had a frank exchange with protesters |
Lucy, one
of the protesters, welcomed the speech but said they needed a promise from the
church that they would not be forcibly removed.
"We
need more of a guarantee that this is not going to happen," she told BBC
News.
"That
means me being dragged out of my tent in the night, my hair being pulled - we
need a cast iron guarantee from the church this will not happen."
Asked
whether the church was doing what Jesus would have done, she said: "I hope
they will strive to do so.
"I
give them the benefit of the doubt."
Cathedral
authorities are offering the protesters' group, also known as Occupy London
Stock Exchange (OLSX), the chance to hold a public debate in the church.
Chancellor's
resignation
However,
they want them to clear the camp before this takes place.
A number of
Church of England figures have criticised the way in which the situation has
been handled by St Paul's authorities.
Their
decision to begin the eviction process prompted Dr Giles Fraser to step down as
canon chancellor, on Thursday.
It was
Canon Fraser who told police to allow the protesters to set up camp outside the
cathedral on 15 October after they had been prevented from camping by the
London Stock Exchange in privately-owned Paternoster Square near St Paul's.
Related Articles:
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The dean of
St Paul's, Graeme Knowles (left), with the bishop of
London, Dr Richard
Chartres. Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features
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