Loan sharks condemned by cardinal

Cardinal Keith O'Brien condemned "extortionate" interest rates

The most senior Roman Catholic in Scotland has used his New Year's Day message to condemn loan firms charging "extortionate" interest rates.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrew and Edinburgh, 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 wanted "selfish ambition" cast aside.

Cardinal O'Brien said the holiday season saw many families trapped in an ever increasing spiral of debt.

'Narrow interests'

He pointed out that many families found themselves in the grip of loan companies and loan sharks, who demanded an extortionate rate of interest, ensuring they remained trapped.

He condemned such practices and applauded 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 came in a sermon to mark a world day of prayer for peace, in which he also spoke 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."