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Mass Bishops Statement on Casino Gambling Legislation…Finally

bostoncatholicinsider | September 16, 2011 at 6:10 pm | | URL:

http://wp.me/pYaYk-Pv

Today, at long last, the Massachusetts Catholic bishops issued a statement regarding the issue of legalized casino gambling.  This statement comes, of course, almost two days AFTER the Massachusetts House voted in favor of the legislation.  The issue of gambling was known to the current MCC Executive Director, James Driscoll, as a “big issue” when he took the job in April.  So when do the bishops issue a statement?  After the horses have already raced out of the barn. The Mass Catholic Conference finally sent their alert out Tuesday afternoon asking people to contact legislators and the Governor, giving people precious little time to do so prior to the House debate and vote on Wednesday.
Below is the statement from the bishops. BCI is glad to see at long last they came out with such a statement. People should definitely contact their state senators and the Governor to try and stop the legislation from going forward. And pray that the legislators will see the light of day before giving this their final approval.
MASSACHUSETTS CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ STATEMENT ON EXPANDED GAMBLING LEGISLATION
For Immediate Release
DATE:   September 16, 2011
Contact:
James F. Driscoll
Executive Director, Massachusetts Catholic Conference
617-367-6060
Today, the issue of expanded gambling within the Commonwealth has once again come to the forefront of the public arena.  We, the four bishops of the four dioceses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, again feel compelled to oppose the expansion of gambling in Massachusetts.
We understand that these are difficult times for many families within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  The unemployment rate remains high, currently at 7.4% percent, thousands of families continue to rely upon state assistance to survive, and more and more people are facing the harsh realities of poverty.  Naturally, the state is searching for new ways to increase revenue and create jobs aimed at meeting these difficult challenges and to bring about economic stimuli.  However, expanded gambling in the form of slot parlors and casinos is an illusory solution to this complicated problem.   If anything, expanded, predatory gambling will only add to the need for state assistance in the Commonwealth.
While the Catholic Church views gambling as a legitimate form of entertainment when done in moderation, the gaming legislation opens the door to a new form of predatory gaming which threatens the moral fabric of our society.  We are concerned that the Commonwealth’s reliance on gambling revenue continues to escalate.  This reliance upon an unstable form of revenue, which has been shrinking in other states, would depend upon those who are addicted to gambling, many of whom are already among the ranks of the poorest in the community.
Many of our churches, schools, and other non-profit organizations rely upon bingo and other games-of-chance for relatively small amounts of revenue.  We hope the citizens of the Commonwealth will recognize the difference between a local fund-raiser managed by volunteers and a multi-billion dollar industry that exploits vulnerable members of the community for financial gain.
The gambling industry can threaten local business and change the entire make-up of communities.  If Massachusetts were to pass the proposed gambling legislation and open the door for casinos and slot parlors in our state, it could diminish our rich heritage and history as a Commonwealth.  There is too much at stake for Massachusetts to open the door to expanded gambling.
We urge the Massachusetts State Senate not to follow the lead of their colleagues in the House of Representatives, but vote against the expansion of predatory gambling.
Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, Archbishop
, Archdiocese of Boston
Most Rev. George W. Coleman, Bishop
, Diocese of Fall River
Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, Bishop, 
Diocese of Springfield
Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop, 
Diocese of Worcester