UK: Christian group calls for boycott of UK's ethical bank

Date: 25 Jun 2005

The organisation Christian Voice has called on all Christians to boycott the Co-operative Bank, widely known in the UK for its ethical policy, after being told to close its account due to the group's 'homophobic views'.

The bank sent a letter to the group saying that, due to "discriminatory pronouncements based on the grounds of sexual orientation" it was giving the organisation 30 days to move its account.

The group said that Christians should stop banking or shopping with the Co-op. He said: "Clearly, and on their own admission, the Co-op is not the bank for those who honour the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Christian Voice said it had originally chosen the Co-op because of its stand on fair-trade and opposition to oppressive regimes. Now it was showing hyprocrisy in discriminating on the grounds of religion.

In a response, the Co-op said: "The Bank believes in respect for all sectors of society and its approach to Christian Voice is based purely on the issue of diversity and not on the grounds of religion. Indeed, the Bank's mission statement clearly states that: "it is non-partisan in all social, political, racial and religious matters.

"The Co-operative Bank respects everyone's right to freedom of thought on all religious matters. What it cannot tolerate, and what its customers will not tolerate, is any form of discrimination, violence, harassment or abuse directed at any section of society."

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