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Church considers slavery payments Church considers slavery payments
(about 7 hours later)
The Church of England is considering whether it should pay reparations for its role in the slave trade, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.The Church of England is considering whether it should pay reparations for its role in the slave trade, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
Dr Rowan Williams told BBC Radio 4's Trade Roots there was "no quick solution" but the Church was beginning to ask and "work at" the question.Dr Rowan Williams told BBC Radio 4's Trade Roots there was "no quick solution" but the Church was beginning to ask and "work at" the question.
The Church, which owned slaves on plantations in the Caribbean, apologised for its role last year.The Church, which owned slaves on plantations in the Caribbean, apologised for its role last year.
Sunday was the 200th anniversary of UK legislation abolishing the slave trade.Sunday was the 200th anniversary of UK legislation abolishing the slave trade.
Dr Williams and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, led a procession through London on Saturday to mark the bicentenary.Dr Williams and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, led a procession through London on Saturday to mark the bicentenary.
'Loss of labour''Loss of labour'
The slaves owned by the Church were eventually freed in 1833 - 26 years after the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.The slaves owned by the Church were eventually freed in 1833 - 26 years after the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.
I think we need to be asking the question and working at it Dr Rowan Williams Church ponders reparationI think we need to be asking the question and working at it Dr Rowan Williams Church ponders reparation
And the Church received government compensation for the loss of slave labour of almost £9,000.And the Church received government compensation for the loss of slave labour of almost £9,000.
Dr Williams told Trade Roots that the Church needed to consider whether it should make reparation.Dr Williams told Trade Roots that the Church needed to consider whether it should make reparation.
"While it sounds simple to say all right so we should pass on the reparation that was received [when the slaves were freed], exactly to whom?" he said."While it sounds simple to say all right so we should pass on the reparation that was received [when the slaves were freed], exactly to whom?" he said.
"Exactly where does it go? And exactly how does it differ from the various ways in which we try to interact now with the effects of that in terms of aid and development and so forth?"Exactly where does it go? And exactly how does it differ from the various ways in which we try to interact now with the effects of that in terms of aid and development and so forth?
"So I haven't got a quick solution to that. I think we need to be asking the question and working at it. That, I think we're beginning to do." HAVE YOUR SAY The issue of reparation is justified. But the problem I believe associated with it is to whom do we pay the reparation? Michael Oputa, Lagos, Nigeria class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5793&edition=1">Send us your comments "So I haven't got a quick solution to that. I think we need to be asking the question and working at it. That, I think we're beginning to do."
He said Anglicans needed to acknowledge that they belonged to an institution partly shaped "by terrible things that our forbears did".He said Anglicans needed to acknowledge that they belonged to an institution partly shaped "by terrible things that our forbears did".
Dr Sentamu has called on Britain to make a formal apology for the slave trade.Dr Sentamu has called on Britain to make a formal apology for the slave trade.
Tony Blair said on Sunday the country's role was a "matter of deep sorrow and regret". but his statement appeared to fall short of demands from campaigners who say he has not gone far enough.Tony Blair said on Sunday the country's role was a "matter of deep sorrow and regret". but his statement appeared to fall short of demands from campaigners who say he has not gone far enough.