Rt. Rev. Douglas Fisher, the Rev. Chris Carlisle and Steven Abdow have written an essay on why casino gambling is bad news. Episcopal News Service has the story:
In Diocesan Convention last October, the clergy and delegates representing our 65 churches voted unanimously to oppose casino gambling in Western Massachusetts. In the months following, many of you have worked faithfully to educate voters as to what casinos really do in communities. That effort included educating me. In the last few weeks I have been interviewed numerous times by television, radio and newspaper reporters.
The very nature of interviews demands “sound bites.” Studies show you get seven seconds to grab the attention of viewers or listeners before they switch channels. My sound bite has been “Jesus came to bring good news to the poor. Casinos are bad news for the poor. I follow Jesus.”
But there is far more to the casino debate than a sound bite. To express the depth of our position, Steve Abdow and I have worked with the Rev. Chris Carlisle to produce the essay “Theology and Casino Gambling.”
Here you will find a reflection on gambling from the perspective of Holy Scripture. And because our theology is not abstract but “incarnate” (manifested in “the flesh,” in reality), you will see many references as to what casinos have actually done to neighborhoods.
Read the essay here