WEST LOTHIAN, Scotland–Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews & Edinburgh has expressed his gratitude for the credit union movement as West Lothian Credit Union reaches its milestone of £10 million worth of loan distributions since the credit union was formed.
In a letter, Cushley held up the credit union movement as an example of Catholic social teaching, calling it a “great example of these principles in action.”
“As you know, the principle of subsidiarity is central to the Catholic Church’s social teaching,” Archbishop Cushley wrote. “It proposes that neither central government nor any larger institution should substitute itself for the initiative and responsibility of individuals and intermediary bodies within civil society. In short, small is often beautiful. “It is through subsidiarity that solidarity with the most vulnerable is often best practised and the common good best upheld.”
The credit union was formed in St Peter’s parish under the late Father Gerry Prior, from the parish’s Justice and Peace group, and has grown over the years to include almost 3,000 adult members as well as 1,500 under-16 members. The credit union’s Catholic origins were noted at a celebration held on Sept. 23 marking the £10 million loan milestone.
The credit union is one of 113 across the country.