A woman reacts as a protestor wearing a skeleton mask walks past her outside St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. The Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Monday became the second high-profile clergy member to step down amid mounting controversy over anti-capitalist protests on the church's grounds. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A woman reacts as a protestor wearing a skeleton mask walks past her outside St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. The Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Monday became the second high-profile clergy member to step down amid mounting controversy over anti-capitalist protests on the church's grounds. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A protestor dressed as a zombie walks past tents outside St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. The Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Monday became the second high-profile clergy member to step down amid mounting controversy over anti-capitalist protests on the church's grounds. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Protestors dressed as zombies are seen outside St Paul's Cathedral in London, Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. The Dean of the cathedral, The Very Reverend Graeme Knowles resigned Monday amid criticism of the handling of the Occupy London protests. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Protestors dressed as zombies are seen outside St Paul's Cathedral in London, Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. The Dean of the cathedral, The Very Reverend Graeme Knowles resigned Monday amid criticism of the handling of the Occupy London protests. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Oct. 30 2011 photo of the Dean of London's St Paul's Cathedral Graeme Knowles, who has announced Monday Oct 31 2011 that he was resigning, as the anti-capitalist protest outside the cathedral continued. His resignation follows that of Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Giles Fraser who had stood up for the protesters. (AP Photo/Sean Dempsey/PA ) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES
LONDON (AP) ? St. Paul's Cathedral officials said Tuesday they have rejected legal moves to evict anti-capitalist protesters camping around the vast landmark and want to address the issues they have raised.
The cathedral's governing body said it had unanimously agreed not to join in legal action against the Occupy London camp after consultations with the bishop of London, Richard Chartres ? reversing a Friday announcement that such a move had "regrettably become necessary."
The two-week standoff over the scores of tents set up outside the iconic cathedral near the River Thames has been an embarrassment for the church, but an attention-getting bonanza for protesters.
Canon Michael Colclough said the cathedral was now committed "to engage constructively with the protest and the serious issues that have been raised, without the threat of legal action hanging over us."
Chartres has invited a high-profile banker, Ken Costa, to lead an initiative aimed at "reconnecting the financial with the ethical." Costa, a 62-year-old South African, is a former chairman of UBS Europe and of Lazard International.
Rev. Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor at St. Paul's last week to protest the possibility violent eviction, will be part of the effort to reach out to protesters, the cathedral said.
Fraser's resignation was followed on Monday by the resignation of the cathedral's dean, the Right Rev. Graham Knowles. A part-time chaplain, Fraser Dyer, also resigned last week, saying he was "embarrassed" by the decision to resort to legal action.
Protesters had aimed to stage their occupation outside the London Stock Exchange beginning Oct. 15, but were evicted from private property and moved on to the nearby cathedral.
After first being hospitable to the protesters, cathedral leaders last week closed the 300-year-old church for the first time since German planes bombed the city during World War II, citing health and safety issues. The cathedral reopened on Friday after a public outcry.
The Daily Telegraph headline front-page headline on Tuesday declared: "St. Paul's branded a national joke."
The cathedral statement made it clear that Chartres had taken command, though Anglican cathedrals traditionally enjoy a wide degree of independence from their bishops.
"The resignation of the dean," the statement said, "has given the opportunity to reassess the situation, involving fresh input from the bishop."
"The alarm bells are ringing all over the world. St. Paul's has now heard that call," Chartres said.
"Today's decision means that the doors are most emphatically open to engage with matters concerning not only those encamped around the cathedral but millions of others in this country and around the globe," he said.
The cathedral's latest move puts it at odds with civil authorities including the Corporation of London, which governs the City of London financial district.
Home Secretary Theresa May said earlier Tuesday that she hoped "that the St. Paul's authorities, the Corporation of the City of London and the police will work together to ensure the protesters can be moved as soon as possible."
Last week, the planning and transportation committee of the Corporation of London resolved to go to court to move the protest.
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