Gambling?

Stormy · Jan 2, 2003

This morning on the news I heard that The Salvation Army has refused a $100,000 gift. The reason for the refusal was because it came from a Florida lottery winner. This organization did not want it because the money came from gambling.

Am I evil when I purchase a lottery ticket? Why would they not take this money and do good with it? I have often thought of all the good that I could do if given a winning ticket.

I think of a lot of gambling as merely adult games. I buy a lottery ticket now and then.

A couple of times I have enjoyed an evening on the river boats. I like the ones that actually take you out on the water. They have great food and I like to go out on the deck and see the view. I admit that I spend a little money on the tables and the machines. I do not drink and the smoking bothers me but still I think it is fun. This is wrong?

Have you ever been to a horse race? I like them too, even though I have only been once. It was fun! My sister picked a long shot to win. There was this one horse that the rider could not contain. There was thunder in the distance and the horse seemed scared. She bet on him to win and won a pretty nice profit since his odds were so high.

So my question is...

What does the Church teach?

In my personal opinion if it is done within reason it is no more wrong then spending money on a night at a restaurant and a show.

I think the Salvation Army made an error in their decision.

Chris†opher Paul · Jan 2, 2003

They had a $300 Million lottery in DC last week. For the first time in my life, I bought a ticket, just in case.

I said that if I won, I would keep $10 million, and give the rest to charity.

If someone does that, I don't see how it can be evil.

Stormy · Jan 2, 2003

I agree but what does the Church teach?

Chris†opher Paul · Jan 2, 2003

The Catechism says...

Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 7, SubSection 2, Heading 1
2413 Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant.

In other words, as long as it doesn't take over your life or cause you to act badly, its ok. Moderation is the key, I think.

Chris†opher Paul · Jan 2, 2003

Stormy-

Here is a searchable, online version of the Cathechism. It contains all of the official teachings of the Church, so you can look up anything you want here:

http://www.kofc.org/faith/catechism/catechism.cfm

Stormy · Jan 2, 2003

Originally posted by s0uljah
Stormy-

Here is a searchable, online version of the Cathechism. It contains all of the official teachings of the Church, so you can look up anything you want here:

http://www.kofc.org/faith/catechism/catechism.cfm

Thanks! Wow, that is cool. So all my answers are here.

Salvation Army made a Boo-Boo.

I think a local Catholic Church should offer to take the money off their hands. It seems so wrong that they would deny this person the joy that he would have from doing good.

VOW · Jan 2, 2003

To Stormy:

In our community, many people have fund-raising trips to Las Vegas or to Laughlin. The casinos sponsor the bus, and the riders pay a small fee (five to ten bucks) which goes to the person or the organization arranging the trip. It's an "up and back" trip: the bus drives to the casino, dumps the people there for a set number of hours, then picks them up and brings them home.

My husband and I went on one of those trips sponsored by our parish Church. The priest bid us farewell, said a prayer for a safe trip, and then told us a joke.

Peace be with you,
~VOW

cenimo · Jan 4, 2003

Under the B, 15

Christina25 · Jan 4, 2003

B-I-N-G-O!

jukesk9 · Jan 4, 2003

At one time (and it may be still) Catholics weren't permitted to be members of the Salvation Army. If you've got some excess money (ie, you've tithed, paid your bills, etc) there isn't anything wrong with having a little fun. Goodness, God didn't intend for life to be boring.

Counting down to a little under a year and a half, my wife and I are going to Vegas for our 10th anniversary! I tried to convince her we should go now since we've been married 12 years (counting the wind chill factor!)

VOW · Jan 5, 2003

To Jukes:

If Trek is your thing, check out the Las Vegas Hilton!

And I can THOROUGHLY recommend the Main Street Buffet! Especially breakfast! That is the FIRST place I've ever been to which includes freshly made pizza for breakfast. Talk about NIRVANA!

Peace and pepperoni,
~VOW

Caedmon · Jan 5, 2003

Originally posted by VOW
Talk about NIRVANA!

God rest Kurt...

LilyLamb · Jan 6, 2003

I wouldn't be too critical of the Salvation Army ... I think they have pretty good reasons not to accept the money.

Here is what one article says about their decision ...

Salvation Army Maj. Cleo Damon, head of the Salvation Army in Naples, Fla., returned a $100,000 donation from a Florida man who won more than $14 million in the Florida Lottery last month.

Damon said if he accepted the donation, he would be giving a contradictory message to the people to whom he ministers.

"There are times where Major Damon is counseling families who are about to become homeless because of gambling," Salvation Army spokeswoman Maribeth Shanahan was quoted in the Associated Press as saying. "He really believes that if he had accepted the money, he would be talking out of both sides of his mouth."

Also ... some other view points on gambling can be found at http://www.family.org/cforum/topics/a0018803.cfm

My humble opinion ... it's not evil ... like someone else said at another board, if you spend a dollar on the ticket instead of McDonalds, you are probably doing yourself more good than eating all that high cholesterol stuff.

However, if you are spending money that should be put to other use ... then I do think that is a sin ... in other words, if you're not giving an equal amount (or more) to the church as what you gamble, then I think that is wrong.

MHO

Stormy · Jan 9, 2003

So Major Damon was just protecting his image? I think that is worse.

The money was given as a gesture of LOVE. It was thrown back at the giver because of Major Damon's misplaced sense of righteousness.

For fear of looking like a hypocrite... he instead became one.

LilyLamb · Jan 15, 2003

I humbly, respectfully disagree.

If he had accepted the money it would be the same as if a shelter for sexually abused women/children were to accept a large donation from Playboy ... or an Alcoholic Rehabiliation center were to accept a large donation from Budweiser ..... to accept the money from someone who is promoting something that they are actively counselling against would be hypocritical.

I think he was protecting far more than "his image" .... for him to speak out of both sides of his mouth would be the same as someone who is ProLife working for an abortion center ....

MHO

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