The most senior Roman Catholic in Scotland will use his New Year's Day sermon to condemn loan firms charging "extortionate" interest rates.Speaking at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, Cardinal Keith O'Brien urged those crippled by debt to seek help.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland spoke of her wishes for a world "transformed" by love and hope. The Right Reverend Sheilagh Kesting wants "selfish ambition" cast aside.
Cardinal O'Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, will say the holiday season sees many families trapped in an ever increasing spiral of debt.
'Narrow interests'
He points out that many families find themselves in the grip of loan companies and loan sharks, who demand an extortionate rate of interest, ensuring they remain trapped.
He will condemn such practices and applaude the work done by many in the churches and wider society to help people out of debt, through credit unions and advice clinics.
His call comes in a sermon to mark a world day of prayer for peace, in which he also speaks out against nuclear weapons, arguing that the pressure to keep the issue in the forefront of civil and church life must remain in the coming year.
In her message, Ms Kesting said: "I pray that we will look beyond selfish ambition and the scoring of points - beyond the narrow interests of ethnicity, nationality, political party, denomination or religion and instead focus our concerns on the neediest people of our world and the things that make for peace." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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