Christians were prominent amongst the climate change protesters who controversially brought London to a standstill last week. Behind the blockades our home news editor challenged Catholic members of Extinction Rebellion about the effectiveness of their tactics

The Passionist priest, Martin Newell, is standing between me and London’s Metropolitan Police, a wave of hi-vis uniforms that has come from nowhere to sweep away the encampment of Extinction Rebellion protesters blocking the Marble Arch end of Edgware Road where we are standing. A shout goes up around us – “The police are here!” – and Fr Newell, who has been arrested and imprisoned countless times, springs into action.

The sudden escalation of police action doesn’t quite mark the end of the demonstration: the police have decided to move only those protestors who are blocking traffic, leaving behind the bulk of the tents encamped around the lawns and fountains of Marble Arch itself. The protesters, including Fr Newell, are amenable, hauling their tents and banners off the road.

They have no reason to resist: the fortnight-long “Extinction Rebellion”, which at its height held sites at Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Parliament Square, as well as Marble Arch, has declared itself a success and agreed to “pause” direct action. MPs including the environment secretary, Michael Gove, met representatives to discuss government action against climate change, and over the course of the fortnight at least 30,000 new members joined the movement.