IT IS a sad state of affairs when churches, places of refuge for all but especially the vulnerable, have to ban undesirables.

Today we report about The Oratory in Woodstock Road, Oxford, having to impose a prohibition on beggars who have been plaguing parishioners.

An increasing number of complaints of people feeling threatened by aggressive begging has left the church feeling compelled to act.

Some will question why a church – bound by faith to open its arms to all sections of the community – is taking such a stance, but it will have been done as a last resort.

The Oratory is not the first church to contemplate such a move.

A city centre church was reputed to be on the verge of banning street drinkers last year, but backtracked when contacted by the Oxford Mail.

The people causing problems at The Oratory are likely to have addiction or other issues. They should not be vilified per se because there are likely to be demons driving their behaviour.

But surely The Oratory or any other church reaches a point where its responsibility for the majority of its flock to feel secure outweighs its usual position of welcoming all.