Pacific Island churches in New Zealand say members of some congregations have gone into debt because of pressure to donate to churches.
The parishioners have fallen victim to loan sharks who promise easy borrowing but extremely high interest rates.
The Reverend Tavake Tupou, who heads an independent Tongan Methodist congregation in Auckland, told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program the church leadership is partly responsible.
He said: “The leadership in this area should come from the churches.
“But unfortunately, traditionally the churches have been guilty of asking for money from people who they know realistically cannot afford to give any more.”
Source
- Island Business
- Image: Pacific Scoop
