A BISHOP in New Jersey has called on parishes and religious institutions to stop organising jaunts to casinos, and to end fundraising from gambling activities.
Bishop Frank Rodimer of Paterson, in an article in his diocesan newspaper last week, told his wayward flock "there have to be better ways of doing the work of Jesus than by calling out bingo numbers or selling raffle tickets".
The prelate lambasted churchgoers who had been lured to the gambling dens of nearby Atlantic City. Small-time betting at home or at work was "innocent enough", but placing bets with bookmakers involved in organised crime was evil. he said.
Too many people were caught
by -the dream of making a bundle of money with one ticket, one throw of the dice, one turn of the cards, the performance of a favoured horse", Bishop Rodimer said.
He said that in his diocese alone -tens of thousands of people had put their money on 'quickpicks' and 'instant cash' tickets".