Bishops take stand against casino gambling

Bishops take stand against casino gambling

BOSTON - The Roman Catholic bishops of Massachusetts oppose the expansion of gambling in the state, especially casino gambling and high stake lotteries, because of “increased dangers and abuses that warrant vigilance and concern.”

That is the message Edward F. Saunders Jr., executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC), brought to the state Senate Ways and Means Committee Tuesday. The committee held the hearing on proposed legislation to expand gambling.
The MCC is the public policy office of the Roman Catholic Bishops in the Commonwealth. It represents the Archdiocese of Boston and the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield and Worcester.

Mr. Saunders said the Church recognizes that gambling can be a legitimate form of recreation. However it can be accompanied by a “passion that risks becoming an enslavement.” The Church considers gambling “morally unacceptable” when it “deprives someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others.”

He said gambling can victimize the poor and reach the level of addiction. He said the human costs of expanded gambling “have not been adequately considered or adequately addressed in any proposed legislation authorizing expanded gambling. The questions of – will the benefits of expanded gambling outweigh its costs? - will expanded gambling harm the very citizens it is intended to help? - will expanded gambling raise crime rates? – have not been fully answered let alone fully discussed.”

He said it appears social problems associated with expanded gambling are being accepted as the cost of doing business. He listed some of the social problems as increased drug and alcohol abuse, increased personal bankruptcies, increased domestic violence and increased hardships for individuals and families.

“What is not being acknowledged is that the harm will reach far beyond individual gamblers by affecting their spouses, their children, dependents, employers and the community in which they live,” he said.

“Government should promote the common good with the best interest of all citizens in mind. The Conference respectfully submits it is not “good economic policy” to attempt to increase the Commonwealth’s income by authorizing expanded gambling at a cost that involves the personal well being of its citizens.”

The State House of Representatives passed a version of the bill that would allow two resort-style casinos to be built in the state and 750 slot machines at four race tracks in the state. The Senate version would ban slot machines at the race tracks but allow three resort-style casinos to be built.