The Northern Ireland Executive should avoid partnering with debt advice services with an evangelical agenda, the National Secular Society has warned. NI’s Department for Communities is consulting on proposals to support the delivery of independent advice and debt services. The proposals include encouraging “collaborative partnerships” with “faith-based groups”. The consultation documents reveal the evangelical debt advice charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) was among the contributors to the evidence gathering phase of the consultation, despite being criticised for attempting to convert vulnerable people to Christianity. The NSS responded to the consultation to urge the Department not to work with CAP without guidelines in place to prevent proselytising. CAP exists to “advance the Christian faith” The NSS said CAP has a “poor reputation” among professional debt advisers due to its “ethically dubious” practices. CAP’s debt advice service is based around volunteers visiting clients in their homes. Its debt service is not delivered by expert, qualified debt advisers such as those that work for Citizens Advice. Instead, it is delivered by debt ‘coaches’ who invite clients to pray …