WRESTLING WITH THE MORALITY OF GAMBLING

IS IT wrong, religiously speaking, to plunk down a few bucks for lottery
tickets? To take a road trip to play some slot machines? To spend a few
hours at a bingo game?

The answers, religiously speaking, are as varied as the world's many
faiths. Some religions staunchly oppose gambling in any form. Some have no
problem with it -- and even engage in some forms of gaming.

But one common thread seems to run among most faiths: Though the Bible
doesn't specifically mention gambling as a sin, gambling has the potential
to be a moral, and therefore, spiritual, wrong.

As gambling has proliferated in the United States, so have attempts to rein
it in on moral and ethical grounds.

In recent years, Focus on the Family has become one of the more prominent
opponents of gambling. James Dobson, founder and president of the Colorado
Springs-based Christian communications ministry, is one of nine Americans
appointed to serve on the National Gambling Impact Study Commission,
created by Congress in 1996. The commission, made up of people with diverse
opinions on gambling, started examining the costs and benefits of legalized
gambling in cities around the nation last June. The commission will issue a
final report to President Clinton and Congress in June 1999.

Immoral, period

Dobson, appointed by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., came to
the commission with a clear stand on gambling: It's immoral in any form.

``If you look at gambling from a spiritual viewpoint, the twin pillars upon
which gambling is built are greed and covetousness -- both of which are
talked about in strong negative terms in Scripture,'' says Ronald Reno,
senior research analyst for legislative and cultural affairs at Focus on
the Family.

``The bottom line is, gambling is an attempt to win money that's been lost
by someone else, not earned, and produces an intense desire to get what
does not rightfully belong to you,'' Reno says.

While the Bible does not say gambling is wrong, gambling violates many
biblical principles, Reno says.

``Gambling has a very negative impact on the poor, and Scripture is replete
with how we are supposed to look out for the poor and disadvantaged,'' says
Reno, who is assisting Dobson in his commission work.

The social consequences of gambling -- addiction, crime, bankruptcies and
family disruption -- have led opponents to conclude that gambling goes
against one of Christianity's fundamental principles: to love one's
neighbor.

``Is it loving our neighbor to allow this kind of predatory activity that
is clearly damaging to so many people and communities? We say emphatically,
`No, it is not,' '' Reno says.

The gambling industry's response is that gaming's benefits outweigh
problems. Lottery proceeds in Colorado benefit the great outdoors, and in
other states, roads and education; casino gambling breathes new life into
economically crippled communities.

Though Dobson and Focus probably are the most visible soldiers in the fight
against gambling, they're not alone. For years, many Christian
denominations have taken strong stances against gambling.

The United Methodist Church revised an official statement at its 1996
General Conference in Denver, reiterating the church is against gambling
and calling it a ``menace to society, deadly to moral and spiritual life.''

The statement concludes that ``Christians as an act of faith should abstain
from gambling and strive to minister to those victimized by the practice.''

Biblical principles

The issuance is based on biblical principles and the social and economic
impacts of gambling, says the Rev. Paul Murphy-Geiss, associate pastor at
Sunrise United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs.

The Assemblies of God, as part of its official church doctrine, states that
``the Christian cannot adopt a neutral stance toward gambling. . . . Those
who want to live according to Scripture will refrain from participating in
any form of gambling . . . and also do all within their power to discourage
the legalization of gambling, whether to raise money for charity, church or
state.''

Among the biblical principles cited in the doctrine are that gambling
disregards responsible stewardship and the work ethic, involves gain at
someone else's expense and is addictive.

Some faiths, on the other hand, do not teach that casual gambling is wrong.
The Roman Catholic Church states that ``games of chance or wagers are not
in themselves contrary to justice,'' according to the Catechism of the
Catholic Church. But the document adds: ``They become morally unacceptable
when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide of his needs and
others.''

``It's a common-sense approach that says it can be a legitimate form of
entertainment, and if used rightly, there's nothing wrong with it. We're
aware that some people become addicted, and then we treat it like other
addictions, as an abuse problem,'' says the Rev. John Slattery, a regional
vicar in the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)