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ProLifeAction
Guest
Do you think its Morally OK to have Bingo and/or Poker/Blackjack at an Annual Chuch Festival?
Do you think its Morally OK to have Bingo and/or Poker/Blackjack at an Annual Chuch F
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renee1258
Guest
Yes, but only to parishioners. We use to have bingo at the parish, but all that would come would be non-parisioners who would go church to church gambling. If it isn’t a parish building activity, then it shouldn’t be allowed.
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space_ghost
Guest
i would be willing to wager that…
let me start over… like most anything else in this world, it’s the abuse NOT the use that sin enters the picture…
I don’t subscribe to the notion that a church picnic that has a nickel wheel to raise money for the church or school poses any type of offense to God… You could make a case that to continue to let a patron gamble his or her paycheck away or to sell a person that extra beer when the effects are obvious could implicate some liability… But, the individual has some major responsibilities here… most individuals know their limitations, and it’s usually hard for a stranger to recognize a problem until the problem become evident…
You really can control yourself, you don’t have to buy that beer, or put your nickel down… and if selfcontrol is an issue, then i would say stay away from the temptation…
Peace
let me start over… like most anything else in this world, it’s the abuse NOT the use that sin enters the picture…
I don’t subscribe to the notion that a church picnic that has a nickel wheel to raise money for the church or school poses any type of offense to God… You could make a case that to continue to let a patron gamble his or her paycheck away or to sell a person that extra beer when the effects are obvious could implicate some liability… But, the individual has some major responsibilities here… most individuals know their limitations, and it’s usually hard for a stranger to recognize a problem until the problem become evident…
You really can control yourself, you don’t have to buy that beer, or put your nickel down… and if selfcontrol is an issue, then i would say stay away from the temptation…
Peace
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Meggie
Guest
Bingo is a easy fundrasier…the other two, well its easier to get carried away…
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ProLifeAction
Guest
Be Careful! Our church started with Bingo and then a couple of years ago the layity pushed for Poker/Blackjack.
WORST OF ALL - They now have Poker Chips with the name “Sacred Heart Church” on it.
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space_ghost
Guest
we drew the line at dwarf tossing…
just kidding, just kidding… i’m outta here… better go check my reputation points after that one… i bet it cost me big time…
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BobCatholic
Guest
I look at gambling just as I look at drinking.
Moderation is the key.
Selling one beer is one thing. Selling 20 beers to the same person is another.
A guy who plays $20 in two hours of gambling is not having a problem. A guy who loses $2000 is in trouble.
It all depends on the amounts involved.
Moderation is the key.
Selling one beer is one thing. Selling 20 beers to the same person is another.
A guy who plays $20 in two hours of gambling is not having a problem. A guy who loses $2000 is in trouble.
It all depends on the amounts involved.
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ProLifeAction
Guest
but are you getting the guy who plays $20 in two hours of gambling hooked on gambling? Maybe now he wants to go to the Riverboat 2 times a week and play for 4 hours each time with higher stakes??
and then a short time later is taking food from his kids mouths because the gambling now becomes a problem & his marriage is at stake? Believe me, it happens & it happens quickly. I have seen it happen to my best friend in a matter of 4 months. His wife is now filing for divorce.
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IM3RD
Guest
I agree with BobCatholic, although I would amend that it is more of a function of “percentage of income” rather than “dollar amount”…
For instance if a guy who only has $20 to his name loses $20 in two hours of gambling, that in my opinion is FAR WORSE than a guy with a net worth of $2-3M dropping $2K on the same game.
Just my two cents worth…
Peace,
Troy
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justLaura
Guest
With that rationale, we shouldn’t offer the Blood of Christ at mass…after all, we might give someone a taste for wine and next thing you know, they’ll be in the gutter with a jug of Boone’s Farm with a paper bag.
I doubt that anyone can develop an addiction in 2 hours.
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ProLifeAction
Guest
and how would you know this is that persons first 2 hours he/she ever gambled?
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justLaura
Guest
You don’t.
But then, since you said it was an annual event, I doublt that something done for 2 hours annually makes much of a difference in the grand scheme of things anyway.
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ProLifeAction
Guest
True its an annual event but that does not mean the people cannot visit the riverboats the rest of the year.
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IM3RD
Guest
In all fairness, somebody with a “true gambling addiction” probably isn’t seeking out ‘Church Bazaars’ to “get their fix”…
There are WAY too many online gambling outlets, horse/dog tracks, Indian owned casinos, etc. to fill their needs.
There are WAY too many online gambling outlets, horse/dog tracks, Indian owned casinos, etc. to fill their needs.
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ProLifeAction
Guest
Well it can add to the gambling portfolio of helping them get their fix & it certainly can get someone started in the wrong direction!
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justLaura
Guest
I gather that your objection is to the church endorsing gambling, correct?
Like anything, moderation is the key. Me eating a dozen cookies is not necessarily sinful, but for someone who struggles with gluttony, it is. The person who can while away the hours at a bingo night once a year for the parish buildging fund is not doing something absolutely sinful, but for the gambler who puts the greed/addiction above his responsibilities to his family, it is.
Unfortunately, addictive personalities are out there. But I don’t think a church needs to hamstring it’s fun, parish-building activities for the rare gambling addict. And I live in a town with a riverboat casino, yet we had bingo night for our parish fundraiser.
I think my parallels regarding the Precious Blood and alcoholism and perhaps offering donuts after Mass being as tempting to obese people would be equally valid.
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iguana27
Guest
If the Catholic Church wants to raise some money, they should do a couple of things:
So many people have been led astray because their pastor was afraid to tell them the truth about stewardship.
Flame away I can take it!
Iguana
- Show that they are good stewards by being completely open about their finances.
- Preach tithing (10% biblical tithing, not $5 in the plate so that everyone else can see you put something in, that is, unless you make $50 per week) and responsible stewardship from the pulpit.
- Gambling losses are not usually tax-deductible
- Asking for the money just seems more honest
- The spiritual graces received for trusting the Lord with your finances are far greater than those recieved from a night of drinking and gambling in the church basement.
So many people have been led astray because their pastor was afraid to tell them the truth about stewardship.
Flame away I can take it!
Iguana
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ProLifeAction
Guest
Yes.
and so if I murder someone only once it is not sinful? You are buying into the New Age Teaching in the world of academia - Moderation.
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carrieloon
Guest
I don’t think it’s wrong, but I do wonder what kind of message is being sent to non-Catholics (and to ourselves) when you attend a church picnic and THE top sellers are the beer booth and the gambling booths.
In addition, what messages are being sent to our children? That in order to have some fun at church functions there has to be activity that is on the ‘edge’ and not just good old fashioned fun?
Believe me, I am no prude. I don’t object to either of these things but they do leave a weird taste in my mouth when I attend a function at my parish (which is normally the most reverent and holy parish I’ve ever attended) and it is chock full of drunken people and pull tabs littering the grounds.
Yes, these are the sins of the PEOPLE but the church is providing these things and *may *be contributing to the “near occasion of sin” for a lot of folks.
Why contribute to it at all, is my thinking.
In addition, what messages are being sent to our children? That in order to have some fun at church functions there has to be activity that is on the ‘edge’ and not just good old fashioned fun?
Believe me, I am no prude. I don’t object to either of these things but they do leave a weird taste in my mouth when I attend a function at my parish (which is normally the most reverent and holy parish I’ve ever attended) and it is chock full of drunken people and pull tabs littering the grounds.
Yes, these are the sins of the PEOPLE but the church is providing these things and *may *be contributing to the “near occasion of sin” for a lot of folks.
Why contribute to it at all, is my thinking.
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justLaura
Guest
Sigh…you are taking this into the realm of the absurd. Are you equating a $2 bingo card with murder?
The definition of addiction is lack of moderation. If your issue is luring people to addiction, or encouraging said addiction, then the ability to handle things with moderation is absolutely relevant.
You’re saying that raising money for a good cause through gambling is inherently sinful. I disagree.
From the Catechism:
2413 Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant.
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