CHURCH SLAVERY RAP
Church’s plan to fork out £100million in slavery reparations might not be legal, think tank claims
The report warns of pressure on others, such as the Government and Royal Family, to follow suit
A CHURCH of England plan to pay £100million slavery reparations is legally dubious, a think tank report claims.
The controversial Project Spire proposal is said to go beyond the Church Commissioners’ lawful powers and charitable purpose.
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It is “poorly justified and historically uninformed” and will divert money intended for struggling parish churches, the Policy Exchange report argues
One of the authors, the Rev Prof Nigel Biggar, said: “The British were among the first peoples in the history of the world to abolish both the slave trade and slavery.
“They went on to do penance for slavery by spending resources of money, ships, and lives in suppressing slavery worldwide for a century-and-a-half.”
He said the question of which past wrongs to right needed a carefully considered answer — but added: “Yet, nowhere have the Church Commissioners felt it necessary to give one.
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"This represents a serious failure of due diligence on the part of Church Commissioners.”
The report warns of pressure on others, such as the Government and Royal Family, to follow suit.
CEO of the Commissioners Gareth Mostyn said the report mischaracterised the project.
Adding: “It is entirely right that we learn from our history and respond appropriately to these shameful findings, and we are now in discussion with the Charity Commission about the establishment of a new fund for healing, repair, and justice, and are exploring such authorisations as may be required.”
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