The Archbishop Of Canterbury invites the moneylenders back into the church:

[Are_grits_groceries]

Two thousand years after the financial services industry was ejected from church premises, the Archbishop of Canterbury not only wants to invite the money-changers back in – he wants churchgoers to help them expand their lending.

Justin Welby is promoting credit unions as a credible alternative to the booming £2bn payday lending industry, and says it will help match often vulnerable, low-income borrowers with the most appropriate lenders. He is proposing that credit unions be allowed to use church halls and other properties in order to better access customers. Welby also wants to encourage churchgoers with financial expertise to help these lenders.

Welby, who sat on the parliamentary commission on banking standards and has been an outspoken critic of the financial industry, believes a successful credit union sector could pose a challenge to high-street and internet payday lenders, who target often vulnerable borrowers with expensive loans.

Malcolm Brown, the Church of England's director of mission and public affairs, yesterday said: "It is not about regulating them [payday lenders] out of business. If the market is functioning as it should, there should not be any need for them to exist."

The government has also pledged to spend £38m to strengthen credit unions.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/jul/01/payday-loans-archbishop-justin-welby

Good for him!

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Some people might criticize the Church of England for this,

but I think they're doing a great service to the country if they put the payday lenders out of business. I think Jesus would approve, although Jesus would probably spend most of that 5.5 billion pounds on the poor.

Remember, the CoE is a government institution over there, so I see no reason why they shouldn't get involved in the financial sector if they're helping people. If a denomination in the U.S. was getting involved in finance in such an overt way, I would have to think about whether or not I would support it.

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. If it is used as a religious platform

in any way, I woud be strongly against it. There are some who do provide all types of help without any strings attached or providing religious messages to an essentially captive audience.
In the present climate in the US, I would be hesitant about it.

Since the CoE does have government involved, it is easier for them.