An interesting confrontation is brewing between Bishop George Packard, retired Episcopal Bishop to the Armed Forces and Chaplaincies, and the leadership of Trinity Church, Wall Street.
In his most recent blog entry, Packard writes:
John Helmiere is the convener and Minister of Listening at Valley & Mountain Fellowship in Seattle. On his blog he's written "john's response to police brutality," detailing his recent arrest and overnight experience with Seattle police responding to Occupy protestors.
Updated with Archbishop Tutu's "clarification."
From Facebook
Letters from The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori and The Rev. Mark Sisk:
The New York Times today carries a front page story by Matt Flegenheimer on the impasse between Occupy Wall Street and Trinity Wall Street.
Updated 10:58 pm: Bishop George Packard has been released from jail. His release was expedited because as the retired bishop of the armed forces, he had military clearances.
UPDATED BELOW with statement by the Rector of Trinity Wall Street, additional video footage and reports
Trinity, Wall Street is hosting a theological conversation on the question of wealth distribution. It's worth noting because of the significant criticism that they have received because of their unwillingness to open Duarte Park to the Occupy Wall Street Protestors.
From BBC, word that the City of London has successfully litigated in High Court to force eviction of Occupy London protesters from the grounds of St. Paul's Cathedral.
An Occupy group is gearing up to provide an alternative voice to the National Prayer Breakfast, scheduled for tomorrow, Rabbi Michael Lerner says in Tikkun.
The Christian Science Monitor reports on tension within the Occupy movement to resist or give in to violence.
More churches are finding their voice and speaking out against a culture which allows people to be shot to death with little hope of finding justice. A cross-denominational group of denominations, which include the Episcopal Church as well as the traditional African-American denominations have issued a joint statement.
Bishop George Packard joined Occupy Wall Street for a march on May 1st, taking him past Trinity Church, Zucchotti Park, and then to Viet Nam..through a stop at the memorial at Veterans Plaza. It was here that the Bishop was arrested again.
Bishop George Packard, arrested during the occupation of Zuccotti park last December, was arrested again over the weekend at the Vietnam Veteran's memorial in New York City this weekend. He was participating in a protest by the group "Veterans for Peace".
