Archbishop Tutu speaks up for Occupy group

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NEW YORK, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa says a New York church should allow Occupy Wall Street to set up a camp on property it owns.

Trinity Church, a landmark at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway, has allowed the protest movement to use its offices, meeting rooms and community center. But the church has refused to allow protesters to pitch tents on land where it plans to build housing and a school a few blocks north on Canal Street, The Guardian reported.

Tutu, retired as a bishop of the Anglican Church in South Africa, addressed his fellow Anglicans in a letter. He urged Trinity to at least avoid violence in its dealings with the Occupy movement.

"Sisters and Brothers, I greet you in the Name of Our Lord and in the bonds of common friendship and struggle from my homeland of South Africa," he said. I know of your own challenges and of this appeal to Trinity Church for the shelter of a new home and I am with you! May God bless this appeal of yours and may the good people of that noble parish heed your plea, if not for ease of access, then at least for a stay on any violence or arrests."