British Archbishops slam greed

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan William. Photo / Getty Images

Britain's two most senior Anglican clergymen, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, both took excoriating swipes at the financial system yesterday in what were seen as their attempts to regain some moral authority in the escalating debate about inequality in Britain.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said: "Whether it is an urban rioter mindlessly burning down a small shop that serves his community, or a speculator turning his back on the question of who bears the ultimate cost for his acquisitive adventures in the virtual reality of today's financial world, the picture is of atoms spinning apart in the dark." Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, listed sins he described as "beastly". All revolved around greed, such as "extortionate moneylending", "perverting justice for a bribe" and "a right to consume with no regard for social action".