Posted on 02/10/2009 6:16:23 AM PST by atomic conspiracy
The Church of England announced Monday it had withdrawn its investments in a controversial company over the weekend following a threat by a group of vicars to publish a letter denouncing the Church's investment, but denied there were any political or ethical consideration in what it called an economically informed decision.
The Church of England said Monday that it withdrew £2.2 million ($3.3 million) from Caterpillar Inc. in late December 2008 because of economic considerations. Israel used bulldozers bought from the U.S.-based manufacturer of construction and mining equipment to demolish Palestinian homes.
" The Church of England withdrew shares it held in the company for purely investment reasons " Steve Jenkins, Church of England spokesperson
News of the churchs divestment came late Saturday just in time to prevent the planned publication of a letter in the Guardian signed by 23 theologians accusing the Church of England of not acting on its policy to promote morally and ethically responsible investments.
"We believe that given the events in Gaza as well as the continued illegal occupation of whole swathes of Palestinian land and the illegal land grabs by settlers, supported by the Israeli Government, that the Church of England must make good on its policy of disinvestment and withdraw its investments from those who profit form the misery of millions of Palestinians immediately," the unpublished letter stated.
But the church denied it had withdrawn investment for political or ethical reasons and said the timing of the announcement was coincidental.
"The holding status was made public when (the Church was) asked," church spokesperson Steve Jenkins told AlArabiya.net. "The Church of England withdrew shares it held in Caterpillar for purely investment reasons."
He added that the Church sold its shares in Caterpillar late December on investment grounds," explaining that the churchs investment bodies is charged with making investment decisions and takes into account the recommendations of the ethical advisory group. Top
Activists say otherwise 23 vicars signed the unpublished letter denouncing the Church of England for not divesting
Activists, however, believed the church's last minute announcement proved it had given into growing pressure for an embargo.
"The Church seems very reluctant to promote the implementation of their own policy, and yes they snuck the news out, under the cover of darkness, with little in the way of a fanfare!" Niall Sookoo, media spokesperson for Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which issued Monday a press release lauding the church's long awaited divestment, told AlArabiya.net.
What are they going to use to tear down their churches when they finally lose all their parishioners?
We all know the great mercy and compassion the lions of Islam show for the weak and submissive. Let the chips fall where they may.
It's more likely that heads will fall where they may...British heads.
The new arrivals will do it.
It is possible. From what I've seen in the financial news, Caterpillar does seem to be having some difficulties.
Kamatsu or John Deere dozers I guess.
Buggery is so much more Christian than blades, don’t you know?
“Bishop” Robinson before blades.
Those nasty blades, we should kick them and cast them out.
These clowns should stop eating as well, because we sell wheat and soy to Israel also.
They'll donate them to their glorious immigrants to use as ammunition depots mosques. Idiots!
Won't need to tear them down:
they'll just convert them into mosques...
Saint Pancake is pleased.
Not doing so well?
Obviously, then, the hand of Allah has smitten Caterpillar for daring to participate in the Juice efforts to defend themselves. Coincidence or not, many a prayer to St. Rachel de Jemima has been answered with this decision.
dang, you beat me to it!
“Saint Pancake” !
LOL!
Coming soon to this Canterbury sight.
MOSQUE OF ENGLAND
and have a nice day Dhimmis
Nitwits: Bulldozers don’t demolish houses. People demolish houses.
Sorry to interupt all the salivating and growling with a question, but do American churches invest in foreign companies that build hardware used by foreign militaries?
Just like the video cam that has been "watching" the S&W Revolver for years on line.
Fear is inanimate objects is................
sounds like Caterpillar is an excellent “buy,” especially with all construction coming out of the Stimulus Bill.
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