When it was known that the Government had granted a licence for the reintroduction of national lottery, the Church lamented how the Government had claimed that it cared for the poor and in the same vain could endorse something which could rob and impoverish them day after day.
In welcoming the Betting, Gaming and Lottery Act, 1965, as a means of controlling the increase spread of gambling, the church urged that the act should avoid any measure likely to encourage increase or more widespread gambling. The Church also urged for a ceiling to be imposed on the first prize that may be won on pools betting, so as to reduce the excitement of the appeal of very high prizes. The council also reasserted its conviction that Government should never promote or sponsor a national lottery.
On behalf of Christians who, on the ground of conscience, were uncomfortable in selling lottery tickets at their workplace, the Church appealed to managers to uphold the principles of freedom of conscience enshrined in our Constitution by respecting the rights of workers who objected to selling lottery tickets.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH GAMBLING
The question may be asked, why would the church spend so many years, so much time and resources in opposing gambling? It is simply this, the Church sees gambling as immoral. The following are among the arguments it has put forward over the years:
Gambling is a false way of acquiring and using money. Within the economic life of any given community, money is an instrument representing certain values, goods or services, which we render to one another. Therefore, how we get out money and how we use it have implications of our relationships within the community.
Gambling is seen as an artificially created risk for the purpose of gain without service, but with the gain being made at the loss of the loser and simply on the turn of chance.
Gambling represents an improper use of the wealth that God has given to us and goes contrary to the principles of Christian stewardship which states that all that we have is a sacred trust from God, to be used to the honour of God and service of others, and for which we will be held accountable.
The real incentive that makes people gamble is the hope of getting easy money. Gambling exalts reliance on luck, not hard work. It exalts self-interest without being concerned for the other. It inculcates the selfish attitude of something for nothing, and encourages a get rich-quick mentality.
Some persons become attracted to gambling out of share amusement but later find themselves in the pawn of its addictive nature.
Gambling, like stealing, murder and careless driving, is wrong because it damages and disregards the life or possession of others. In gambling, money is passed from hand to hand to the detriment of thousands for the advantage of a very small few, who are able, by advertisements, to play on the possible gain, and so trick many into parting with their wealth. It creates a false sense of hope to the vast majority while a few may benefit. The Christian message that calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves demands that we reject gambling as an act of selfishness which encourages individuals to gain at the expense of others without offering goods or service in exchange.
Monies given in prizes bear no relation to the values which society needs to uphold if it is to be healthy. The prize may go to a poor person who needs it or to a rich person who does not; to a good person or a criminal.
Other social evils often accompany gambling, such as fights and squabbles, increase in street violence, drug trafficking and the corruption of public officials.
Believing that the end does not justify the means, the Church objects to the use of immoral means to achieve just and desirable ends, such as charity, education, etc.
Concerning the idea of restricting casino gambling to tourists while prohibiting our citizens, the council argued that if a thing is wrong for our citizens, we should never provide the opportunity on our shores for other people to engage in it.
In response to the lotto, the Church argued that our children were being taught to gamble before they learned to work.
The Jamaica Council of Churches remains adamant in its opposition to gambling, whether it is casino or other forms. We acknowledge that there is plethora of gambling going on in Jamaica; however, we do not need anymore such evil. We must give due recognition to the creativity of our people. At a time when as a society we are faced with the erosion of fundamental values, we must encourage a greater sense of care and concern for others, as well as encourage persons to embrace the ethics of work towards sustainable development.
