Gambling Case

Horse Racing on Sundays became a controversial topic which pulled in member of the church community. The two articles "Bishop says church's stance on gambling hypocritical" and "Church, big businesses must learn to coexist" by Bishop Everton Thomas and Sean Major-Campbell explains that Churches are using selective morality to oppose Sunday gambling.

Both writers agree that the country will experience economical gain from the practice of Sunday horse racing, regardless of the ethical dilemma. They also state that the churches are being hypocritical in their effort to stop the gambling, since they too are involved in activities with characteristics of gambling. They both expressed that the church needs to play it's part in society and not to practice covered up gambling.

While Thomas points to the fact that churches are involved in gambling through investing huge sum of monies in unregulated investments schemes, Campbell looks at shopping in equity markets and sending children on school or church trips.

Like Thomas, Campbell delivered his findings using the compare and contrast technique. The tone of Thomas was concern, while Campbell was rhetorical towards the difficulties the churches are having in reaching out to the people.

Despite the fact that the writers are not call for a band on horse racing, it is made clear that whoever wished to take up the practice must be sure to know that the gains received would be wrong. The churches have their purpose to educate the nation of the gospel and to ensure the people are aware of the repercussions of their actions regardless of its nature.

Bishop says church's stance on gambling hypocritical

Monday, February 06, 2012

A prominent member of the clergy believes that the country stands to gain economically from Sunday horse racing, and has raised questions regarding the church's continued opposition to gambling.

Head of the Emmanuel Apostolic Church and past chairman of the Jamaica Pentecostal Union, Bishop Everton Thomas, said the current furor over the resumption of Sunday horse racing has raised a number of questions as it relates to the "selective morality" of the church.

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"When is the church going to wake up and 'smell the coffers', and realise that there is significant economic benefit to be gained for Jamaica from this kind of entertainment, gaming, aka gambling? he asked in an article submitted to the Observer.

"Another important question is how can the church be claiming to have moral authority when it has experienced so many failings? And what has the church got to say about the huge sums of money it placed in unregulated investment schemes? Isn't that the heights of hypocrisy? After all, many see that as a form of gambling," he said.

Bishop Thomas pointed out that not everyone who gambled was an addict, but those who did should know that the benefits gained were wrong. He said the practice violated work ethics, was motivated by greed and took advantage of the weaknesses of others.

"It leads to unsavory companions and others who are motivated by greed and covetousness. It leads to those who are quick to take advantage of others, such as bookies, loan sharks, etc. It leads to addiction in many cases. Gambling can become psychologically and physically addictive," he said.

Despite these possible effects, however, he said he was not calling for a ban on horse racing.

"I want to go on record that I am not calling for a ban on Sunday racing. And neither am I calling for a ban on any other day or on any other gaming or gambling activity. People must be free to make choices but should be aware of the consequences," he said.

However, the bishop said that while the church had not always spoken out on matters affecting the society, the institution had a right to be heard as an equal stakeholder as it fulfilled its prophetic and pastoral role.

"If she speaks, she is damned. If she does not, she is damned. So, she might as well speak. She has to speak for her purpose is to herald the good news and sound the alarm of impending danger. But when the Church speaks prophetically or pastorally, she is acutely aware of the possibility of losing her head like John