Government agrees to payday-loan cap after Welby pressure; Comparing Justin and Rowan; G8 must tackle ‘ridiculously unfair’ global system; Young people encouraged to campaign for human rights
Government agrees to payday-loan cap after Welby pressure
by Madeleine Davies, Church Times – The “great moral force” brought to the debate by the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Justin Welby, forced the Government to back down on its opposition to capping interest on payday loans, the House of Lords heard on Wednesday.
Lord Sassoon, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, announced at the start of the debate on Wednesday that the Government would amend the Financial Services Bill to give the regulator the power to cap both the total cost and total duration of credit. Speaking in response, the Labour Peer, Lord Davies of Stamford, thanked Bishop Welby for his support. Bishop Welby had added his name to an amendment, tabled by the Labour peer Lord Mitchell, which would gave given the Financial Conduct Authority the power to cap interest rates. It was withdrawn in light of the Government’s U-turn.
“It is only because of the determination and initiative of my noble friend and his colleagues, and the great moral force brought to this matter by the Right Reverend Prelate, that, at the last minute, the Government have decided that they have no alternative but to do the right thing for once,” he said. “I am so glad that the Right Reverend Prelate is a churchman, and not afraid to use old-fashioned but eternal concepts such as usury.”
Comparing Justin and Rowan
Stephen Cherry writing in his blog ‘Another angle’ states: This has been a very odd three weeks in the Church of England in general, and in Durham in particular. Who could have imagined it a year ago when our new bishop was welcomed to Durham. I think it finally sunk in last night when ‘Have I Got News for You’ showed the photo of Justin knocking on the Cathedral door. A friend tweeted my precise thought. We had just seen someone we knew on HIGNFY. But the person was not Justin – the person was Trevor the verger, standing in the background. Somehow seeing Justin there was sort of normal – already.
One of the many exciting things about the appointment is that the new Archbishop is such a contrast to his predecessor. I say that as a huge admirer of both Rowan and Justin. The differences are obvious, but the similarities are a bit more subtle. This is my list.
1. Both have the ability to listen very intensely and deeply and then to respond. This is rare, but it underlies greatness both in leadership and in pastoral care. One-to-one conversation with either can have the quality of deep attentiveness.
2. Both read voraciously. Both research. Both enquire deeply and find things out. Many with less demanding ministries and lives read a fraction of what they get through. They both feed the hunger to know – and this lies behind what they have to say. Their leadership is fueled by the humble habit of learning.
3. Both can move easily in and out of prayer, silence and liturgy. This lack of awkwardness or show about spirituality is a delightful gift and the sine qua none of true priesthood.
4. Both give voice to that thought that they know is going to be a bit uncomfortable. Both bring truth into the room and, simply by being there, insist on a high degree of social seriousness and mutual respect. Both know the importance of both truth and reconciliation.
5. Both often wear a black shirt. That’s cool. It’s also ecumenical; and it gives a message of solidarity to the troops.
6. Both have the quality of wisdom but also real wit and a robust sense of humour.
Thank God for both.
G8 must tackle ‘ridiculously unfair’ global system
Christian development agency Tearfund says the G8 must commit to ending poverty when it meets next year in Northern Ireland.
David Cameron confirmed this week that next year’s summit will take place at the Lough Erne golf resort near Enniskillen, in County Fermanagh.
Tearfund chief executive Matthew Frost said that a hunger summit would run alongside the G8 meeting to press leaders to making the commitments “the world’s poorest need from us”.
He called for “rigorous standards” to be put into place to end corruption by making sure governments are transparent about their budgets, and that companies clearly state the tax they owe.
“Let’s make 2013 the year that we start to end hunger, and begin to tackle the ridiculously unfair system that means that, even though there is enough food in the world for everyone, one in eight people will go to bed hungry tonight,” he said.
Young people encouraged to campaign for human rights
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/young.people.encouraged.to.campaign.for.human.rights/31163.htm