Bishop calls house

THE South Carolina secretary of state's office has been asked to investigate a bingo operation that had taken in more than half a million dollars allegedly using a Catholic parish's bingo licence without permission.
Fr John Bench, administrator of St C'yprian Parish in Georgetown, asked the secretary of state to conduct the investigation after the state sent him a letter requiring confirmation of the parish's desire to renew its bingo licence.
Bingo games are licensed in South Carolina only if they are sponsored by tax-exempt organisations with the proceeds going to charity.
Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler of Charleston, whose diocese comprises the entire state, affirmed a resolution by the diocesan pastoral council in March which said that parishes, schools and other facilities owned or operated by the diocese must discontinue operating bingo games.
Ronald Young of Sumter, a bingo operator, had sent a request for the renewal of St Cyrian's bingo licence to the secretary of state's office.