Church dogma? No thank you

After being barred by the manager of the Methodist-run Whitechapel Mission (she is the wife of the director Minister Tony Miller) due to, er, concerns about our safety, we are now washing in the streets and in toilets.

I am concerned that the same trick can be pulled elsewhere – why not have me also assaulted (again) in the porch we sleep in at night so the police can move us out due to the same concerns? – so I am staying out of the Sisters of Mercy-run Dellow Centre as much as possible.

I might as well, because when I went in last Thursday a homeless woman stepped into the shower just seconds before I was going to step in myself (the showers of the local Salvation Army women’s hostel, where she is a resident, must have been out of order). So, there: I can’t even shower now. Oh well.

Meanwhile, Declan has been assured by The Big Issue head coordinator at Liverpool Street that there is no chance I will be removed from my pitch out of a similar concern, even if I am assaulted by a homeless on it – such a dumb excuse you could only expect from a faith-based initiative organisation!

Anyway, the ramifications of this barring are starting to be felt in other areas. Take the porch we sleep in at night. Three nights ago, the cleaner blew the porch alarm – we were sleeping – on her way out of the office building. Two nights ago, she left eight large bags of rubbish inside the porch, which dripped of milk and other liquids when Declan moved them to the pavement for collection. And yesterday morning … well, I found an open large bag half full of rubbish beside my head when we woke to get up at 4.50am.

What is the purpose of all this intimidation? Short term, of course, it is to stop Declan’s application to the European Court of Human Rights – he already has a file number, having lodged his case against the UK by introductory letter of 18 May.

However, the ultimate purpose is to neutralise NAC: it is somehow considered a threat – we are rather pleased about that. This is why I think NAC is feared: (1) NAC is about teaming up with anti-dogma activists to form a broader opposition movement; (2) NAC aims to facilitate activists and groups in one part of the world to make common cause with those in other parts, and (3) NAC is dedicated to supporting these activists and promoting their views through photography, videos, podcasts, etc – open source is booming out at such a fantastic speed you only have to look at the Greenpeace website to see the enormous possibilities.

The right that the hierarchy of the Christian church – in their arrogance – believe they have to impose their repressive doctrinal values on the rest of society, even on those who like us are not (any more) religious, is really what NAC wants to tackle and I think – the police are doing a very good job at letting us know – that we could have great impact.

What about when activists in Africa or Asia can be given digital cameras, videos and laptops by NAC members that they can use to easily post their work and efforts – for example, to re-open a family planning clinic that the local priest has succeeded in closing – to the NAC website? It is a total winner.

Last Tuesday, the Hay festival brought Christopher Hitchens to London to talk to novelist Ian McEwan about his new book, God Is Not Great. We would have given anything to be able to attend but of course, given our present circumstances, that was pie in the sky (I don’t even have the money to buy his book). I particularly love that he is so aggressive and fierce in his slaying of religion – such a talented journalist.

Would love to hear Richard Dawkins of course – who wouldn’t?