Sensible Archibishop

I was pleased to hear him agree to being embarrassed by the situation. How many political leaders would do that instead of trying to wriggle out of their responsibility ?

Really pleased to hear that some churches do run homeless shelters.
I hope this spreads to more churches.

I thought the Archbishop sounded very flaky on the Today prog this morning. Making excuses about why and how the church invests in inappropriate companies. Didn't sound much like Jesus in the temple. Very disappointing.

Oh dear, news this morning that CofE pension funds invest in payday loan companies. Credit Unions are alive and well here in the north west. The benefit changes will no doubt lead to even more people needing to use the pawn shops and loan sharks. As others have said, to borrow from credit unions you have to save a little.

Yes I can see that jingle I (personally) would like to give him the benefit of the doubt but if he refused to wear the shirt on "moral grounds" and refused even half of his £40,000 per week wages I would have some respect for him. The fact that he quite happily takes the £40,000 per week and gambles (and drinks alcohol too) in my eyes makes him a hypocrite.

I know that. I am just pointing out that the footballer is supposedly boycotting the top for his own feelings of moral outrage against the loan company.

j08 I think Islam condemns all interest payments and it is certainly opposed to usury. That's why specifically Islamic mortgage companies exist.

I read "both on religious and moral grounds".

As far as I'm aware, jingl he cited his religion as a reason.

Perhaps the Muslim footballer simply objects to the high interest rates this company make out of desperate people.

Nothing to do with his religion. Give him a break!

What am I like ??? My mind is all over the place today. My post should have said " I would feel happier if the Arch Bishop did put his money where his mouth is........."

gillybob -

Opps sorry kittylester we crossed posts.

It would appear that Papiss Cisse is a bit of a hypocritical Musim Nanaej.
Yes he refuses to wear the Newcastle United shirt as it bears the name of the sponsor which is Wonga but he is quite happy to spend his time gambling in Aspers Casino in Newcastle and I am fairly certain that good Muslims are not permitted to gamble.

I was one of the people who lobbied the MP to try and prevent the Wonga sponsorship going through on the grounds that many of the faithfull Newcastle fans will be the very people taking out these disgusting loans to help pay the extortionate wages of the footballers!

Also I would feel happier if the Arch Bishop didn't "put his money where his mouth is" and come up with a Church scheme to lend some of its enormous wealth to desperate people. We can all talk the talk.

I think it's absolutely brilliant - just what church leaders should be doing.

nanaej as I understand it, the same footballer was also recently pictured in a casino

I think a lot is to do with security and fire prevention. Some one would have to live in. I do remember a friend of my DD working for the homeless and telling me that many found it preferable to sleep rough rather than go into shelters where their belongings might be stolen or get assaulted in the showers. This was twenty years ago. I don't know if it has changed.

Henetha Many churches run shelters for the homeless, run by volunteers. They have toilets, showers, kitchens and so on and there are people to give advice and keep an eye on things. There are regulations, too, about the use of buildings. It may be (I don't know) that it is illegal for anyone to live in a church. that seems to be so in the States.

I think it is good too. One of my objections to church organisations is that often they become self serving and too introspective, spending more time on internal politics rather than out with the local communities.

Fantastic news that the Archbishop is getting involved in things like this.
The church, in my humble opinion, needs to be far more involved in the needs of people and do more practical things to help.
There is so much they could do. For instance, why are there churches which are empty at night when homeless people are sleeping on the streets?

We were involved with the running of a Credit Union in the last place we lived. Unfortunately not enough people supported it and our 'branch ' closed. It was staffed by volunteers only. The only problem I see with this is that usually people have to save some money before they can borrow any - may be he will be having a Union which is set up differently. I hope this all works out as those loan companies are truly odious.

I understand a Muslim footballer has refused to wear the team shirt because it is sponsored by Wonga

www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/newcastle-united-put-in-a-dilemma-by-papiss-cisse-s-refusal-to-wear-sponsor-s-logo-1.1472838

This can only be a good thing and hopefully other faiths will follow his lead. The sooner these pay day loan companies are put out of business the better.

Even the publicity generated will help. Not enough people are aware of Credit Unions.

He is a great loss to Durham. So many good actions that have come out since he left that he did privately and in public he raised awareness of the food banks. And had a sense of humour .

It is a good cause to lend the weight of his position to and I am pleased to see him doing this.