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Pacific Union Church Leaders Oppose Expansion of Casino Gambling in California
Officials from the Pacific Union Conference are urging church members to vote NO on Proposition 1-A on March 7 and participate in efforts to defeat this initiative. Proposition 1-A would eliminate the century-old ban on slot machines from the California Constitution, permitting slot machines and other "banking and percentage card games" such as blackjack, on California Indian Reservations. "Many Californians mistakenly believe that these reservations are in obscure, out of the way places," Alan Reinarh, director the Pacific Union Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department. "But plans are already underway to develop huge casinos in the cities of Roseville, Sacramento, and Escondido. In fact, there are 42 "landless" Native American tribes seeking recognition from the Federal government who would have the right to develop casinos on any land they choose to purchase for that purpose. An additional 107 reservations would also be entitled to operate casinos. California could become as big as Las Vegas to the gambling industry." The Adventist Church opposes casino gambling because of the enormous social, economic and political costs gambling inflicts upon society. The social costs of gambling include fraud, theft, debt, bad checks, ruined credit, delinquent payments, lost work time, unemployment, increased welfare, medical expenses, divorces, spouse and child abuse, bankruptcies, and suicide. "Money that should be spent on food, clothing, housing, automobiles, and other necessities is often lost in the casinos," Reinach says. "Gambling can strain marriages to the breaking point, leading to divorce. None of these costs are borne by the casinos. "In addition, the increase of gambling money in our political system has a corrupting influence. In the last election cycle, Native American tribes contributed $9.8 million to legislative candidates, and nearly $1 million to elect Governor Gray Davis. "While we are waiting for the Kingdom of God, we can either abandon this world, or exercise our rights as citizens to preserve life. Gambling is destructive of life. It is an unmitigated evil, and should be vigorously opposed." Adventist Leader Protests Government Attempts "The Seventh-day Adventist Church strongly advocates the preservation of the traditional family unit and the teaching of wholesome values to our children," says Pastor Cecil Perry, British Union Conference president. "The determination of the government to drop Section 28 from the statute books, thereby opening up the way for the teaching of homosexuality in our schools is another nail in the coffin of traditional family values. This section should not be repealed." The law in question is a 1988 amendment to the Local Government Act, intended to stop local authorities (city and county councils, for example) from promoting homosexuality. Since local authorities are responsible for the operation of state schools, this provision also applies to what is taught in the national curriculum. According to the law, "A local authority shall not: (a) intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality; or (b) promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship." "The exposure of young minds to lessons accepting the homosexual lifestyle as an alternative to the normal man and wife family unit will create moral and spiritual confusion in the minds of our children," Perry adds. "As a church which believes in the biblical principles of the family and the Christian education of our children, we need to do our civil duties in letting our MP's know our stand on the issue as Christians. Let us remember that the demise of our families is a symptom of the decadence of spirituality."–-Adventist News Network Following recent shifts of Chechen refugees into eastern Georgia, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency is providing thousands of pounds of clothing, blankets, and infant food to those in need. "The civil war in Chechnya has brought devastation and forced thousands to leave their homes to preserve their lives, says Loganathan Perumal, acting director of ADRA/Georgia. Thus far the church humanitarian agency has distributed 140 bales (nearly eight tons) of winter clothing to 5,000 children in Georgia refugee camps, says Beth Schaefer, ADRA media relations manager. For More Church News |
