Catholic bishops oppose casino gambling in Kentucky

[Dale_M]

Catholic bishops in Kentucky have issued a stern warning about the potential consequences if lawmakers approve a proposal to legalize casinos.

The Rev. Patrick Delahanty, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, distributed a letter to state senators on Tuesday detailing the unanimous concerns of the state’s four bishops who represent some 400,000 parishioners in the state.

“With their flashing lights, free-flowing alcoholic drinks, all-night hours and generally intoxicating atmosphere, casinos are more likely than other gambling options to lead to bad decisions and catastrophic losses for patrons, particularly those prone to problem or compulsive gambling,” Delahanty wrote in the two-page letter, distributed a day before the issue is to be considered by a Senate committee.

news.yahoo.com/catholic-bishops-oppose-casino-gambling-205623585.html;_ylt=A2KLJxR1O0VPhn8A1QA7Xs8F;_ylu=X3oDMTQzZHQ4cnRyBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBVU1NGIFJlbGlnaW9uU1NGBHBrZwM2Y2UwYmY3NC1kYzg3LTNlNzYtODM2Yy0yYWIzMTgyZDlkOTAEcG9zAzcEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDYzE3NzEyMTAtNWNjZS0xMWUxLTk0ZmQtZTNjNTA4NTgwZWIx;_ylg=X3oDMTF2Y2VzZTFkBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAN1c3xyZWxpZ2lvbgRwdANzZWN0aW9ucwR0ZXN0Aw–;_ylv=3

This puts the Kentucky bishops in line with the Kentucky Council of Churches and the Kentucky Baptist Association. Interfaith cooperation on moral issues is a good thing, but have Catholic bishops opposed casinos elsewhere?

 

[catharina]

Having lived in KY in the mid-60s, I recall that the BIG social issue in KY was
the chronic lawlessness led by gambling syndicates. Newport, a city in the north
of the State, was the center of corruption in the State. I can see why many in KY
would be less pleased with a spread of gambling centers.