Occupy Wellington protester Benjamin Easton said the occupation, which began at 3pm yesterday, was to encourage the Anglican Church to "actively and physically engage the established capitalist-based institutions of greed and corruption as they thrive in New Zealand society".

Police said one man was removed for trespassing on private property about 6pm.

Costa, a former chairman of UBS Europe and Lazard International, spoke out after being appointed by Bishop of London Richard Chartres to lead an initiative aimed at "reconnecting the financial with the ethical."

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Costa asked how the market has managed to slip its moral moorings.

"For some time and particularly during the exuberant irrationality of the last few decades, the market economy has shifted from its moral foundations with disastrous consequences."

While still regarding financial incentives as "both valid and effective," he said there was a need to "rebalance the equilibrium between risk, responsibility and reward."

On Sunday, leader of the opposition David Miliband entered the fray, writing in the Observer: "You do not have to be in a tent to feel angry.

"Many of those who earn the most, exercise great power, enjoy enormous privilege — in the City and elsewhere — do so with values that are out of kilter with almost everyone else."

"Only the most reckless will ignore or, still worse, dismiss the danger signals," Miliband said.

A new survey showed that Britain's top company directors received a 50 percent average pay rise while the majority of Britons are having to endure a pay freeze during a period of austerity imposed by the government to reduce high debt.

Sources

• Reuters

"Almost with one voice they expressed their dismay at St Paul's closing their doors. But they, like a lot of folk, believe the church has failed where Christianity has not. Their response doesn't surprise me; over the ten years since becoming a priest I've heard many people state their discomfort towards the church yet profess allegiance towards Christianity."

The "folk" at the Drop In Centre, and the City Missioner must therefore be encouraged by the lastest turn of events. The City of London Corporation Spokesperson Stuart Fraser has announced 'The church has changed its standpoint and announced it is suspending legal action on its land.'

"Given that change, we've pressed the 'pause' button overnight on legal action affecting the highways - in order to support the cathedral as an important national institution and give time for reflection."

"We want to leave more space for a resolution of this difficult issue - while at the same time not backing away from our responsibilities as a Highway Authority"

A Guardian editorial says "Most churches are a bit of both, and the temptation to identify with the bricks and mortar is particularly strong when they are as glorious as at St Paul's. The cathedral's move to threaten eviction on health and safety grounds certainly suggested it was leaning that way.

But after three resignations ... the contrary view has prevailed. The church has rightly decided to grapple with the question of the demonstration from the perspective of a moral community as opposed to that of a property management company."

Source

• Kapiti Independent
• The BBC
• The Guardian
• Image: Otago daily Times

The plan has been hatched in the event that the Cathedral attempts to evict the protesters.

Christian activists say that in the absence of support from St Paul's they are duty bound to stand up for peaceful protest.

Tanya Paton, a Christian protester said: "We represent peace, unity and love. A ring of prayer is a wonderful symbol."

As senior Church officials at St Paul's apparently keen to get an injunction to disband the protest, director of the religious think-tank Jonathan Bartley, said the cathedral's handling of the protest had been a "car crash" and predicted more high-profile resignations from the Church of England.

The canon chancellor of St Paul's, Dr Giles Fraser, and the Rev Fraser Dyer, who works as a chaplain at the cathedral, have already stepped down over the decision to pursue legal action to break up the camp.

Banker's report suppressed

It was claimed last night that a highly critical report into the moral standards of bankers has been suppressed by St Paul's amid fears it would inflame tensions over the protest. The report, based on a survey of 500 City workers who were asked if they thought they were worth their salaries and bonuses, was due to be published last Thursday.

But publication of the report, by the St Paul's Institute, has been delayed in apparent acknowledgement that it would give the impression the cathedral was on the side of protesters.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 20 religious figures gathered on the steps of St Paul's to support the occupation, which began two weeks ago.

The bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, has promised to attend St Paul's in an attempt to persuade activists to leave. But protesters say they have no intention of packing up, many reiterating their intention to stay at the cathedral until Christmas and beyond.

Sources

• The Guardian
• Image: The Guardian