Although health care is getting the bulk of attention on the faith and politics scene lately, the religious community is pressing forward as hard as ever on a host of issues. That's why I love spending so much of my morning hunting for stories of faith groups' actions across the country. Last Friday the Raleigh News & Observer ran a story about an interfaith coalition that's working to protect consumers and borrowers from predatory interest rates:

With the average rates estimated between 12 and 15 percent, that means millions of consumers are paying $1,000 a year in credit-card interest alone.

Religious people of many spiritual stripes agree that's a big problem, and they'll unite in Charlotte today and in London next month to try to do something about it.

N.C. United Power is part of an international campaign to cap interest rates at 10 percent in deference to historic usury laws that grew out of Christian, Jewish and Muslim scriptures. The campaign comes at a time when credit card companies are being scrutinized by Congress and the Federal Reserve.

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act passed by Congress this year offered new protections for consumers, and the Federal Reserve is proposing new rules as well. But a legislative effort to cap interest rates at 15 percent did not succeed.

Religious congregations and community groups from across North Carolina will rally in front of the headquarters of Bank of America and Wells Fargo this morning to demand a meeting with bank executives to negotiate an "agenda for economic relief."

Stories like this highlight much of what effective organizing entails: finding an issue that unites diverse people around common principles; assembling a broad coalition; watching legislation; taking public actions with defined goals and clear targets; joining a greater campaign. Thanks to congregation-based community organizers, efforts such as these are ongoing across America. Good to see one of them get some ink!