Is anyone listening

THE message of the Occupy protestors is directed at anyone and everyone who will hear it but those camped outside St Paul's Cathedral were obviously hoping that they would be heard loud and clear in the nearby City of London offices and board rooms and that constructive discussion might follow. Thus far, however, there has not been an individual or collective word from that direction and the City of London Corporation, which might have acted as a spokesman for the business community, has confined its involvement to its responsibilities as the local Highway Authority.

Sad to say, the performance of the Church of England in managing its unexpected guests has been even worse than the silence from the City. Two leading clergymen have resigned because of the decision of the Bishop of London and the Dean of St Paul's to take legal action against the protestors and the Dean himself has subsequently followed their example, saying “I am no longer the right person to lead the Chapter”. Ironically both the Church and City Corporation had second thoughts yesterday on evicting the protestors. Even the Archishop of Canterbury has been criticised for failing to visit St Paul's to talk both to protestors and his representatives. His written message saying that “the larger issues raised by the protestors need to be properly addressed” was too little and too late.