In this second edition, Bishop Paul Peter Jesep, documents that credit card usury is legal, widespread, and perceived as a legitimate form of commerce. Yet it causes despair, hopelessness, physical pain, emotional torment, and financial servitude. Long-term consequences due to a poor credit score include difficulty finding employment, higher car insurance, the inability to secure safe and affordable housing, and in some cases ineligibility for needed educational loans. At a time when greed is at an all time high Christian leaders have consistently failed to use their pulpits to speak out against credit bureaus, collection agencies, and credit card companies. Christians have long advocated for social and economic justice, but have overlooked the serious injuries this sector of the economy causes.


Bishop Paul Peter Jesep, by appointment of His Beatitude Metropolitan Myfodii of Kyiv and All Ukraine, is Director of Public Affairs for the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Kyiv-Patriarchate in the United States. He earned a B.A. in political science from Union College in New York, a J.D. from Western New England College School of Law in Massachusetts, a Master’s degree in Professional Management from the Graduate School of Political Management now based at The George Washington University, and a Master’s degree from Bangor Theological Seminary in Maine. Bishop Jesep is a practicing attorney in New York. In addition, he is author of Crucifying Jesus and Secularizing America - the Republic of Faith without Wisdom and Credit Card Usury and the Christian Failure to Stop It. Credit bureaus, collection agencies, and credit card companies are legally permitted to benefit from greed, usury, and exploitation. This causes spiritual, physical, and emotional harm to families and individuals. Due to powerful Washington lobbies the industries are modestly regulated thus enabling highly unethical business practices. Long-term consequences for individuals include, but are not limited to poor health, difficulty finding employment, higher car insurance, the inability to secure safe and affordable housing, and in some cases ineligibility for much needed educational loans. Christian leaders have long advocated for social and economic justice, but have overlooked the serious injuries this sector of the economy causes. All Christians have a duty to confront and help change the credit card industry that is responsible for extraordinary suffering that ruins lives.