Serving At Bingo

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The point of this post may take a few moments to get out, so I hope that you will bare with me.

Our Parish’s Catholic School relies heavily on the money they bring in from Bingo every Sunday. In fact, they rely on it so heavily that each parent is required to serve at three Sunday bingo’s every school year, for a total of 12 hours. If those hours aren’t served, then we are charged $40.00 for each hour not served.

The workers are expected to sell bingo cards, computers, punch keys, etc. They even sell “chance” cards, where a new chance to win comes about every ten to fifteen minutes, so the people have to keep buying these new “chance” cards in order to play those games, all while the regular bingo games are going on.

Some people complain about serving bingo because of the smell-everyone smokes and come away smelling something awful. Some people work in the kitchen selling food for those playing, and then you come away smelling like smoke and grease.

I have a serious moral objection to this whole process. I know the school gets a lot of money from the proceeds of these games, and it helps keep the tuition down. However, I HATE gambling-in any form. I know many people say that it’s just for fun, but I’ve worked two bingos this year and I’ve seen the people who come and play. You can tell by the way they look and the way they’re dressed that they don’t have $100.00 a night to throw away on their hopes of winning some money. I feel like I’m making money off of people’s fears and desperations. I HATE that.

Another reason I hate it is because of my father. My father has been a heavy gambler since he was in his teens, and it all started with small stuff like bingo and lottery tickets. He’s never worked a full day in his life because he keeps “holding out” for his big win. It caused the break-up of my parent’s marriage and his bad example has influenced several of my brothers in a very negative way. And this hasn’t just happened to my family-there are millions of people in this country addicted to gambling, and many times it started out small with bingo and lottery tickets.

So, with all that being said, what do I do? My husband and I are on a tight budget and can’t afford to pay the extra $40.00 an hour by not working the bingos. My husband isn’t Catholic and doesn’t want to shell-out the extra money for Tuition. However, I also feel that I should be able to put my money where my mouth is and be willing to pay the extra so that I don’t go against my convictions.

So, what should I do? Do any of you have any advice? I should really talk to Father about it, but I’m not sure how to best put it to him without sounding like I’m just complaining about not wanting to serve. Can anyone help me?

Thanks.
Scout :tiphat:
 
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Scout:
So, what should I do? Do any of you have any advice? I should really talk to Father about it, but I’m not sure how to best put it to him without sounding like I’m just complaining about not wanting to serve. Can anyone help me?

Thanks.
Scout :tiphat:
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I would talk to Father and tell him your reasons for not wanting to be there and offer to volunteer in another capacity for your 12 hours.

If that doesn’t help may I suggest you buy a finger rosary and use it the entire time. I once did this when I was forced to work a Lallapalloza concert and I prayed through the whole thing for all those young adults that attended.
 
I you have an objection to bingo or other gambling or fundraisers for funding your Catholic school - and I warn you I have major objections, including all those you cite – form a committee of like minded parents, meet with the principal and pastor to discuss alternatives. The best is real stewardship-tithing, by which means if 2/3 of the parish commits you can usually reduce tuition greatly or even pay for every child in the parish to attend the school. Others are raising tuition.

\Meet with the bishop or his official in charge of this topic, and find out what the diocese guidelines are. Our old diocese (Youngstown under Bishop Thomas Tobin) came out strongly against fundraisers particularly gambling to fund school and parish operations, in favor of tithing and stewardship.

Get guidance on what real steward ship is (it is about spirituality, not money). check out this month’s Catholic digest for quick overview and resources. contact Our Sunday Visitor for a consult on their stewardship program.
 
My dear Miss Jean Louise,

These are just suggestions. Take them for what they’re worth:
  • You and I both know that in Central Illinois, BINGO is an event, not only a very good money-making event, but the social highlight of a lot of people’s week. It is not going to go away soon. If they stopped it in your school this week, some other local organization would pick up the slack- and money.
  • 12 hours of Bingo? I personally can’t stand Bingo, even with Cheerio markers and no money changing hands. So I honestly feel for you. But, playing devil’s advocte, how long is one Bingo session? I imagine this is what, 3, maybe 4 nights you must perform Bingo duty during the school year. As much as you hate it, try to remember this: Think of how happy your children are in Catholic school, how much better off.
  • The best way to go about changing this would be to change schools to one that does not have Bingo, or has better (or cheaper) Bingo rules for parents of the school. But in Central Illinois, where the Catholic schools are farther apart than in Chicago and the Collar Counties, that might not be possible.
  • You need to talk to Father, because it sounds as if he runs a tight ship. Perhaps you could run some of these proposals by him.
  • Could you propose a smoke-free section? I know (again here in the Collar Counties) there are schools that offer play in a smoke-free section, and these places get snatched up quickly. It is a draw, a money-maker, offering a smoke-free section. More people would show up and blow their hard-earned money if they did not have to contend with the smoke.
  • Can you work only in the kitchen, preparing or selling food? Be the caller? Is it possible for you, because of your convictions and with Father’s approval, to avoid the actual gambling end of this? A successful Bingo game requires lots and lots of people-power, very hands-on.
  • Can you get your doctor to state in writing that being around all that smoke is bad for you, and perhaps see other ways to volunteer your time and talent for $40 an hour, or even double up and do twice as much for $20 an hour?
  • If you don’t work outside the home, can you get a part time job that will cover the $480 net to replace the 12 hours of Bingo? Baby-sitting? After-school program? Tutoring other kids? Throwing newspapers? Dairy Queen? McDonald’s? Is there a college nearby where you could help put together papers or other work where you could use your computer? Is there a motel nearby where you could clean rooms? Summer daycare or day camp? Minimum wage in Illinois is $6.50 per hour. Depending on how many dependents you can claim, it will take you about 80 to 96 hours to get the money to replace the Bingo time.
Now, I understand your reluctance about gambling. But the Church teaches it is not gambling that is bad, but the abuse of gambling that’s bad. Because of your past experiences, you have a psychological situation going on with gambling- another point to bring out to Father.

I understand about real stewardship, etc. That might work down the road, but you need a solution NOW, not next year, not in the time it is going to take to implement a real stewardship program. I also understand too well the realities of Illinois, Catholics and Bingo.
 
I know we had one parish on the east side of Cleveland that started a smoke-free bingo night, and attendance was zero, they lost money, somehow smoking and bingo go together. Our hall in our old parish in Cleveland got some kind of super air cleaners that supposedly filtered the cigarette smoke, better, but still no good for somebody like me with asthma. We did yard work for the parish to replace our bingo contribution, then later did computer programming to pay for our entire tuition bill (a lot less in those days).
 
In my neck of the woods, we have no less than 12 Bingo games, not to mention boats that are for-profit gambling casinos (I guess the water “washes” the action;) ). The clean-air factor here DOES indeed draw people- esp. at the Catholic high school. And food- for some reason food is a BIG thing at Bingo. People who barely munch down two lettuce leaves during the day eat like gluttons at Bingo.

Our last pastor did not think Bingo was the way to go (It’s that pesky stewardship thing) and eliminated it over fifteen years ago. The current pastor never reinstated it, so it’s been almost 20 years since we had Bingo (thank goodness).
 
My mom is addicted to bingo. In fact, she almost didn’t come to my daughter’s first communion because it fell on bingo night. 😦

I completely understand your point of view. I hate to think that it may be nonCatholic’s only exposure to Catholicism. Our parish festival gets a huge amount from gambling. I wrote a letter to our pastor last year about it.

Could you offer to clean up afterwards? I’m sure a lot of parents would like to get home and not deal with clean up.
 
Could you pay someone else to take your spot? I know a lot of college students that would jump at $15 hour.
 
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OutinChgoburbs:
  • If they stopped it in your school this week, some other local organization would pick up the slack- and money.
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This may be true, but that doesn’t make it right. This may be a poor example, but they could get an ounce of coke down the street, too, that doesn’t mean we should start selling it.
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OutinChgoburbs:
  • Could you propose a smoke-free section?
They have a smoke-free section. The smoking isn’t the issue. The smell washes-off. What doesn’t wash-off is the residual effects of the gambling.
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OutinChgoburbs:
  • Can you work only in the kitchen
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Kitchen duty is an option, but it is the area that fills-up the fastest. It’s difficult to get volunteer time there. Also, I don’t think this really solves the problem because I’d still be working in a situation that I loathe. However, if Fr. forces me to work it, I do suppose it would be the lesser of two evils.
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OutinChgoburbs:
  • Can you get your doctor to state in writing that being around all that smoke is bad for you
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I suppose I could, but since I don’t have a problem being around the smoke (at least not one that every other person doesn’t have), I feel this would be dishonest. I don’t think it would be right for me to lie to get out of a situation that I find morally objectionable. I’d feel like a hypocrite.
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OutinChgoburbs:
  • Now, I understand your reluctance about gambling. But the Church teaches it is not gambling that is bad, but the abuse of gambling that’s bad. Because of your past experiences, you have a psychological situation going on with gambling- another point to bring out to Father.
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I believe it’s more than just “psycholigical”. I believe it shows a real lack of trust in God to supply all of our needs. I also believe it teaches bad work ethics. I mean, why work and earn our money when we can win it with hardly any effort at all?

I appreciate your suggestions, though.

Scout :tiphat:
 
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Scout:
I believe it’s more than just “psycholigical”. I believe it shows a real lack of trust in God to supply all of our needs. I also believe it teaches bad work ethics. I mean, why work and earn our money when we can win it with hardly any effort at all?

I appreciate your suggestions, though.

Scout :tiphat:
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Most people don’t see it that way. But, if at your appointment you tell Father just that, point blank, maybe that would go a lot farther than anything else: You find gambling in all forms to be a lack of faith.

Don’t mention that up here in the Big City, there are places that have done away with Bingo and exists even better than before Bingo.😉

And please let us all know what happened.
 
I agree with your doubts about gambling. While there is nothing wrong in gambling per se, it can be catering to an addiction. It has been my experience that Church Bingo games encourage the addict. There is little profit from one who plays one card. The money comes from the one who plays six or eight and buys strips of raffle tickets - the addict. [Incidentally I have the same objection to liquor and tobacco advertising. It is directed to the large scale consumer.]

On the other hand this would seem to be characteristic of the school’s values. Are you sure these are the people you want teaching your children?
 
Joe Kelley:
I agree with your doubts about gambling. While there is nothing wrong in gambling per se, it can be catering to an addiction. It has been my experience that Church Bingo games encourage the addict. There is little profit from one who plays one card. The money comes from the one who plays six or eight and buys strips of raffle tickets - the addict. [Incidentally I have the same objection to liquor and tobacco advertising. It is directed to the large scale consumer.]

On the other hand this would seem to be characteristic of the school’s values. Are you sure these are the people you want teaching your children?
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It is a wonderful school. It’s the oldest school in town, but it only has around 110 students. So, they need to make their money in many different ways, while trying to keep tuition down. In fact, tuition at this school is very low-we only pay $1400.00 per child.

I have every confidence in the school when it comes to academics and morality, except in this one issue. I believe it is the best school in town. I think that Bingo is just done because it’s always been done, and they see it as an easy way to bring money into the school to help keep tuition down. I think their heart is in the right place, I just don’t agree with their way of going about it.

Scout :tiphat:
 
Well, here’s an update.

I just spoke to Fr. a few minutes ago. Evidentally, there have been a couple of other families that have voiced objections to begin on the basis of morality. Although this isn’t being advertised, Fr. is allowing those who have moral objects to Bingo to work the Auction instead. The Auction is a once-a-year event that also is a major fund-raiser for the school. I can volunteer for that instead of Bingo. And, since it isn’t gambling in any way, I don’t have to worry about subjecting myself to something I find morally distasteful. So, I guess I did all that worrying for nothing. :o

Just as an FYI, the posts suggesting proper stewardship are right on target. In fact, I’ve been in contact with some people from Crown Financial Ministries in order to get one of their seminars taught at the Parish. My husband and I have been to one, and it completely changed our view of our finances and how we handled them. I’m going to be making a presentation to Father about it in the next couple of months, and hopefully the seminar will help increase stewardship in the parish. I know that it has increased our family’s tithing.

Scout :tiphat:
 
I sympathize since I myself have had tremendous difficulty with a gambling problem that also started in my teens and reached a climax shortly after my 21 birthday and then you get alcohol in the mix. After the numerous times of using gambling as a vice to esacape my problems and almost as a self destructive mechanism to give me something to be miserable about to cover up anything else that depressed me, I finally realized I had to end this addiction. I got really committed to learning to play the piano and finally felt good about my self for something since I really enjoyed the process to the point where I would rather play the piano than go to the casino. The first month was realy tough as I had to at times play for 5 hours or so just to control the urge but now that urge to gamble is almost non existant after 2 months since I recently had to get a ride to the city the casino was located in and took the free shuttle to get a free ride and I walked right by without entering and didn’t give it any thought which I was really happy about

I have already done a lot of financial damage where I am now going to have to really budget my money to get by, but not nearly as much as I could have had I continued to gamble and maxed out credit cards etc. I am still sickened at how much I gambled and lost but when you are in the addiction you really do lost all rationality and nothing can stop you and the harm you do to yourself is not even conceivable at the time. Anyways the point is if the people attending your church events are addicts and your church is supporting it I agree in saying it is really immoral and shameful. However, at least they are losing it to the church. If they don’t lose it there they will throw it away elsewhere. Perhaps that can be consoling.
 
by the way I am tickled this thread was posted in the Spirituality forum. Only a true Catholic would make such a choice.
 
Joe Kelley:
I . It has been my experience that Church Bingo games encourage the addict. There is little profit from one who plays one card. The money comes from the one who plays six or eight and buys strips of raffle tickets - the addict.
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DH ran bingo for a couple of years at a neighboring parish, helping out a neighbor who got sick and had to drop out. There is little or not profit in the cards, the profit comes primarily from instant bingo cards and there is some profit on the food (which of course is all junk, at least as bad as the cigarette smoke). We hated it primarily because we would go work at the hunger center the next day to serve a meal and be serving the same people who played bingo the night before.

Fortunately he got on the bishop’s stewardship committee and was ultimately a force in convincing the parish to forego bingo. They did not even have a school, and their Sunday collection was a fraction of operating expenses, because they had this unhealthy reliance on bingo. Bingo has been gone for 6 years, the size of the parish has nearly doubled, and under the stewardship program they support 3 nearby Catholic schools, and collections have grown exponentially.
 
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Scout:
I also feel that I should be able to put my money where my mouth is and be willing to pay the extra so that I don’t go against my convictions.
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In prayer about another matter, my thoughts centered on a verse we sing in “Come Holy Ghost” - Thou font of life and fire of love, and sweet anointing from above, and sweet anointing from above.

You explained in your original post that you feel a disconnect with your true convictions. I would trust the inner voice of God who has already given you a sense of His will. There is no “sweet anointing” in this case that brings forth a “font of life” as you serve, so how can this work please God? His anointing is not there - it is the work of man, who has used his reason to implement this plan as a viable solution to the parish’s problem.

My wonderful priest in his first assignment as pastor of our parish put a stop to all bingos. Praise God! :clapping: It may ultimately mean the closing of the school, but in God’s eyes, He may have a better plan that is hidden at this time until the parish entrusts itself to His guidance. As it stands now, do you honestly believe the end justifies using this means? Does God receive glory knowing that your support comes from gambling, rather than free-will offerings?

There is nothing that comes to mind from the scriptures to reveal that God is ever pleased with forced service. He inspires, and leaves the free choice to man’s “fiat.” Recall, too, that when He ordered Moses and the first community to begin work on the Meeting Tent, God asked Moses to solicit donations of gold and goods from the people. It was not mandated that if one could only bring a tiny portion of what they had, they would be forced to do something in return to make up the difference or be excluded in some way. This is just not God’s way, IMO.

I join in blessing your insight, and I strongly encourage you to use diplomacy to bring an end to this practice.

God be with you,
Carole
 
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Toni:
…I was forced to work a Lallapalloza concert…
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I suspect there must be more to this story. How and why could one be forced to work a Lallapalloza concert? Even court ordered community service excludes cruel and unusual punishment.
 
Well, Scout, I say, “Everybody stand up. Miss Jean Louise is passin’.”

GOOD JOB!!!:clapping: :dancing:

May “Bingo” and “Catholic” in the same sentence someday be an anachronism.

And yes- Crown Financial’s plans and programs are excellent.

That is a fabulous tuition rate. I was grateful paying twice that as a parishioner for one granddaughter.

If I sounded pro-bingo, I am not. I am pro-diplomacy. I know how attached people in Illinois- particularly in Central and Southern Illinois- are to their Bingo. It can be like the Civil War ressurected.
 
JB.:
I suspect there must be more to this story. How and why could one be forced to work a Lallapalloza concert? Even court ordered community service excludes cruel and unusual punishment.
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:rotfl:
 
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