Morally bankrupt? Most religions condemn debt

The holidays are history; the gifts are tucked away, and it's time for reckoning with your credit card statement. January is here again.

It just doesn't seem that long ago, carrying all those bags out of the mall and rationalizing that you'll eat only ramen this month so you can pay it all off by Feb. 1. Besides, your other New Year's resolution is to lose some weight.

Yet research shows the majority of Americans won't keep either of those resolves, despite the fact that both debt and gluttony are condemned by most major religious traditions. In fact, says certified financial planner Michael Cook, lenders count on our collective lack of resolve when it comes to paying down debt.

A member of St. Thomas More Catholic Parish, Cook is convinced lenders are not acting morally or ethically by lending people money they can't afford to repay, and by encouraging them to go deeper in debt. Statistics released this month show the average U.S. household has $18,700 is consumer debt alone — excluding home mortgage or rent payments. And the average credit card balance per household? $12,000.

"I see lots of people out there with very good incomes — doctors and attorneys — that have tremendous debt problems. And it continues because material things seem to be important to them to feel fulfilled. I'm not sure why that is, but spiritual teachings (about debt) are only given lip service."

Jessie Fan, associate professor of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah, says people's attitudes about consumption, and therefore debt, have definitely changed over time. Borrowing "has become more acceptable; it's not a shame anymore."

Earlier generations didn't want their neighbors to know they were borrowing money, and bankruptcy carried a particular stigma. Now "young people think it's not a big deal compared to older people."

Though Cook doesn't talk religion with clients unless they bring it up, he does teach them about "good and bad debt."

"Even from a spiritual point of view, good debt to me is anything that is useful in life that appreciates, like your home. And it's usually tax deductible." Bad debts, in Cook's estimation, include home equity loans, cars, credit cards and anything else that depreciates in value or can't be deducted.

In addition to losing value over time, bad debts incur interest and fees — often at exorbitant interest rates. In 2002 alone, Cook said, the average consumer paid $1,700 in interest and fees on consumer debt. "You have nothing to show for that" other than the fact that you didn't have to wait to satisfy your desire for the item, he said. He sees people "highly focused on what you would call 'worldly wealth' and just having to have it all."

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