This is what has been done to St. Paul’s Cathedral:
Mr Cottam wrote: ‘Desecration: – graffiti have been scratched and painted on to the great west doors of the cathedral, the chapter house door and most notably a sacrilegious message painted on the restored pillars of the west portico.
‘Human defecation has occurred in the west portico entrance and inside the cathedral on several occasions.’
The Dean of St. James Cathedral, Douglas Stoute, has reiterated that the Occupy Toronto protesters will not be allowed to take sanctuary on Cathedral property, having concluded, I imagine, that it is one thing to stand with the poor – or the faux-poor, depending on one’s perspective – it is quite another to stand in their excrement.
I took a Sociology course, about ten years ago, on Criminal Justice. In a book I read, the author surveyed academic literature to glean stereotypes of the poor. This author, said there were two…the vicious poor, and the worthy poor. The vicious poor thieve and rob, and we put those people into prison. The worthy poor, who struggle and surmount hardship, we write novels about. So, I certainly understand poverty is very tough. And, it is understandable that some give in to drugs, pleasure, and selfish activities.It is a harsh life, and they will likely meet a tragic end. But, I do believe some find their way, some learn from their mistakes, and some make it, to living a good life.
Not sure how this applies to the Occupation Protest. But, I admit to feeling ambivalent and cautious towards these persons.
The medieval church had similar problems; there are records in church courts of people being fined for urinating in baptismal fonts and against altars.
So this is actually something retro-medieval, almost Anglo-Catholic! The Archdeacon of Hampstead Heath should be pleased.