Is bingo gambling?

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tsering said:
I agree, but don’t you think an Archbishop has a lot to say?

Peace
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I’m sure he does, but I stand with my opinion.

Nor does the Church condemn other forms of licit entertainment that MIGHT COST THE SAME as dropping twenty bucks at a bingo game or at the slots. I don’t see a difference.

Are you saying that people should be censured for their choice of entertainment? Is the Archbishop saying that?
 
tsering said:
I know I sound harsh, but I’m just trying work this thought out: Why does the Catholic Church who follows Jesus and His apostles in charity (Acts 2:44-45, 4:34-35) need Bingo to supplement for the lack of financial giving?

If.
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BECAUSE Catholics do not, for the most part, tithe or practice a spirituality of stewarship, nor do most bishops encourage the practice. Catholics can have any ministry, any type of church, any apostolate, any outreach, any evangelization program they want, can educate all the children of the parish in Catholics schools, can do whatever the Lord is asking them to do as a parish if they embrace tithing. If not, not.
 
JohnMPhilomena said:
It always amazes me that something like bingo is frowned upon as if were a great evil. I’m not really into bingo but if I wanted to take $20 and play one night a month with a chance of winning a prize, how is that sinful? As long as I can afford the $20, why is that different than going to the movies, playing golf, or going out to dinner? It’s entertainment. It’s also a charitable contribution.
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Engaging in games of chance is not sinful in and of itself unless we are putting money and possessions at risk which are required for the wellbeing of our families or other things such as businesses or organizations which we are responsible for. But the Catechism is clear that we are not to engage in nor promote behaviors which cause others to fall into sin.

***CCC 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. *I would have a really, REALLY big problem if my parish were conducting Bigno nights on a regular basis which were advertised in any way outside of the parish in order to attract members of the general public. I have been to for profit Bingo nights and Bingo nights run on regular basis’ for non-for profit organizations and people are addicted - many can’t control themselves and waste huge sums of money. Later on you see them getting into decrepid jalopies with bald tires and you know they have just blown the rent money.

*But make sure that this liberty of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)*For a Catholic Church to enable these people to enslave themselve to gambling and to facilitate their further addiction and poverty is competely counter to everything we stand for. To do so is a sin!

As a matter of disclosure, the Catholic School at my parish, which both of my daughters attend, has had “Family fun bingo night” from time to time but not int the past two years and not on a regular basis. These were not advertised outside of the parish and not regular occurances and all prizes, monetary or otherwise, were donated by members of the parish.

-Tim-
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
Are you saying that people should be censured for their choice of entertainment? Is the Archbishop saying that?
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No and no. Read the article in full. I think what he’s trying to say is that as Christians we have a lot of things that are licit - like entertainment and spending money on it - he isn’t saying anything against that fact. What he is trying to do is draw our minds beyond what is just allowable and to what is ideal, like investing in the poor as a worthy way of spending our money. Money for entertainment, or money for the poor - both licit, one more worthy than the other. And no, I don’t think he is compelling any one, he is making a suggestion, exhorting his archdiocese to consider this, because really giving should be done out of love, not compulsion. You can do whatever you want with your money. And just as casinos have the right to advertise their entertainment as a way for you to acknowledge the choice of spending your money there, the Archbishop has a right to advertise for the poor - who really can’t afford to advertise for themselves anyways. 😉

Peace
 
And what I want to point out is that the Archbishop is not the CCC.

No matter how thought-provoking this Archbishop’s article may be — or no matter how worthy of consideration, we run the risk of being like Pharisees when we mistake our personal choices for law AND THEN TRY TO COMPEL OTHERS TO FOLLOW SUIT.

Let’s say for a moment that I have an eating disorder that causes me to gluttonously finish everything on my plate and ask for more, more, more, and that I choose eat at a restaurant. I can’t stop myself. It doesn’t happen at home, but just in restaurants.

Should we then lean on people so that all restaurants be thought of as occasions for sin and near-sin?

It’s the same with gambling. This is where common sense and personal responsibility enter into the picture.

And yes, I’ve seen people condemn the restaurant industry as mortally sinful, when this is clearly not the case.
 
Hello everyone, I am new here and I will come out with it straight away and say this is the first forum I have ever signed up to. I am usually the kind of guy who reads forums for advice but I never take the time to give my (name removed by moderator)ut.

Anyway, the main reason I signed up to day is because I am a huge bingo fan, as in I have it bad, lol. I know when to stop however I will say that.

I am not a born Catholic but a converted one, only a few week in, thanks to a neighbour. I decided to turn to god because of family problems and I am very new with all this.

Anyway I though people should have a look at: Should Bingo be Classed as Gambling?

I am hoping God will forgive me if I play if I myself know when to stop. At the end of the day it is my money and surly I am allowed to do a I please as long as I do not hurt others.
 
I would be interested to read a Catholic theologian’s take on Bingo. Right now, I think that Bingo is a help to gambling addicts who know that, at least their lost monies are going to a worthy cause.

I don’t think maintaining gambling casinos in Las Vegas is as worthy a cause as helping the poor, the sick, the aged, etc., all of whom benefit from Catholic charities.
 
Gambling implies risk. Since I only play bingo with the seniors at St Martin’s retirement home, it hardly seems like gambling, since I never lose. I do give my winnings (bars of soap and loufas) the residents though.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
I don’t think the CC has officially stated that gambling is forbidden.

Sure wish I could afford to go to Vegas—just once, to see what it’s about.
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Vegas is a cesspool. I was stationed there for a military exercise at Nellis AFB. It is like a modern day Mos Eisley from Star Wars. People who cannot afford to gamble throwing away money like it is nothing, prostitutes roaming the casinos, and all manner of indecency and freakish behavior known to mankind.

I wouldn’t ever want to go back, personally.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
People pay what, like twenty dollars a head these days to go to a movie?

How much to go to a restaurant? Or maybe a day at the races, or a sporting event?

Gambling is entertainment. If you have the disposable entertainment money to go to a movie or restaurant or Vegas, can someone explain the difference?
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It depends how much money and time you spend on bingo playing. Some bingo sites offer great deals. Think of playing as a social activity.
 
yes it is, but Gambling is allowed by the Church, So i dont see any problem there.
 
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