Editorial

Besides the presidential primary, Dane County voters on Feb. 17 will be asked to approve a referendum to convert the DeJope bingo hall on Madison's southeast side into a full casino gambling operation.

	Update ... See update to this editorial in February 5, 2004 edition: "Madison mayor clarifies his stand on casino referendum."

Benefits of casino. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk support the arrangement with the Ho Chunk Nation. They believe that expansion of the DeJope facility will provide financial benefits to both the city and county. Each entity is expected to receive more than $45 million over 13 years.

The pro-casino Coalition for the Fair Indian Gaming and Revenue Sharing Agreements says, "These new revenues will help hold down property taxes and provide vitally needed funds for local human services programs, education, police, fire, and emergency medical services. It will also create hundreds of new, good-paying jobs with full benefits at DeJope. And, it will attract more visitors, who will boost our local economy."

For these reasons, people may be tempted to vote for this proposal. It sounds too good to be true, and maybe it is when one looks at the possible negative impact of gambling expansion.

Catholic teaching. For Catholics, gambling has traditionally been viewed as "morally neutral." Like drinking, it is not wrong in itself. Rather, it can become wrong when it is used to excess.

Our Wisconsin bishops expressed these nuances in a statement on gambling issued on March 4, 1993: " . . . we do not change our traditional view that gambling is morally neutral in itself, becoming immoral or destructive only when it becomes excessive, either for a community or an individual. Today, however, we believe the trend toward legalizing additional forms of gambling is moving our state as a community past the point of 'moderation.' Accordingly, our past position of neutrality on this issue should now give way to public opposition to its growth and expansion."

Local parish opposes casino. Fr. D. Stephen Smith, pastor of Christ the King Parish in McFarland, includes this quote from the bishops in a statement he wrote. It was endorsed by his Pastoral Council on Dec. 11, 2003. He and the parish are especially concerned about the expansion of the DeJope bingo hall, since it would be on the doorstep of the Village of McFarland and within the territory of Christ the King Parish.

The statement says: "Of and by itself we believe that gambling is not evil. However, does this expansion of gambling move us beyond the point of moderation? Do we need a gambling casino every 50 miles (Beloit to the south, Ho Chunk to the north)?"

The parish also admits that some casinos can lead to job creation and economic development in areas with serious economic problems. "However, Dane County boasts perhaps the strongest economy in our state based upon technology and other high tech industries. This is the type of economic development that should be encouraged," the statement says.

The statement also points to four concerns about the expansion of gambling expressed by the Wisconsin bishops:

• The impact on youth and families, especially with addictive behavior.

• The tendency to encourage false hopes for wealth.

• The potential for corruption.

• The unreliability of revenues.

"Given all of this information we believe that the conversion of DeJope will move us beyond the point of moderation," says Father Smith. "There comes a time to say, "enough is enough." We have sufficient casinos within 50 miles where those wishing to gamble may do so. Our communities will best be served if DeJope does not expand to a full gambling casino."

Study issue, vote against expansion. After studying this issue, I personally will vote against the casino expansion. I, too, believe our economy should be supported by economic development and fair taxation, not relying on gambling revenues. Too many low-income people waste their money on gambling. And even middle to higher-income families suffer from the effects of gambling addiction, witness the increased number of bankruptcies in communities with casinos.

I hope other Dane County voters will join me in making a conscientious decision to vote against the casino expansion on Feb. 17.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Bishop has right to advise

To the editor:

Bishop Burke has the responsibility and right to advise members of his diocese not to speak and act publicly against the tenets of the church they have professed to believe in. This does not conflict with democratic principles. If one does not accept Catholic teaching, he should in conscience join a religion with tenets he can embrace, and he is free to do so.

Abortion is the murder of innocents and never permitted. (See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2271.) When the Holy Father spoke against a U.S. pre-emptive strike in Iraq, he was not making or referencing an infallible statement. Just war is permitted by the Catholic Church (CCC, 2308-2310) and this particular war had arguments on both sides. Clearly, this is not a comparable issue to abortion.

Also, the Catechism teaches that legitimate public authority may make use of the death penalty if the gravity of crime warrants it to preserve the common good of society (CCC, #2266). This, too, is distinct from the murder of innocent babes.

Thank you, Bishop Burke, for proceeding with justice, mercy, and courage.

Sarah A. Tumpach, Sun Prairie

Right to life is fundamental

To the editor:

I read with interest the statement from J. Lassa (who received a letter from Bishop Burke), "When I was elected I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution." If I remember right it reads, "To give all people the right to life, liberty, and happiness." The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights. What good are all the other issues if you are killed by abortion?

Lassa said she would represent all the people. Yet every poll taken states that 70 percent of the people are against abortion. Shouldn't she be representing 70 percent of the voters instead of 30 percent?

Fr. Tony Schumacher states that the role of the elected representative is to vote for the common good of every person. How are these representatives upholding the life of babies that are killed by abortion?

This double standard is in complete disagreement with the Catholic Church and also in direct opposition to the work of God Himself: You are either with Me or against Me, says the Lord (Mark 9:38-40). If you are neither hot or cold, but lukewarm, I will vomit you from my mouth (Rev. 3:15-17)!

Bishop Burke is a hero in my eyes and I hope Bishop Morlino will not give Communion to these people.

Ellen Timmerman, Cuba City

Listen to church teaching

To the editor:

I need to comment on Bishop Burke forbidding Communion to Catholic legislators who support abortion.

U.S. Rep. David Obey commented he votes by his own independent judgement and conscience. I looked up the word "conscience." It is knowledge of one's own acts as right or wrong.

Who should I listen to: the church or the pro-choice senators, congressmen, and judges? What does God say to this issue? Jesus is our king. He taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come (God's kingdom) thy will be done (God's will). His kingdom is not a democracy. He who belongs to God hears what God says (John 8:46-47).

God was an unborn child declared human at conception (Matthew 1:20). So I will pray for all the bishops that they declare this truth and follow our pope and that political leaders search out true knowledge.

Jesus said, "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing any of these little ones should be lost" (Matthew 18:14). I shall listen to Jesus and his church, where there's a sacrament to purify my soul and a sacrament where I declare I'm one with all people and God.

Laurie Favreau, Footville

Allaying fears of Rome

To the editor:

It's a good thing Bishop Burke of La Crosse, now transferred to St. Louis, wasn't writing letters to politicians in the 1950's and 1960's. We were fighting at that time to allay the fears that Rome would control American politicians, especially the president.

It was a hard fight but John F. Kennedy was elected president. Letters like Bishop Burke's would have doomed his candidacy. Now, we must fight the battle again.

John F. Patterson, Bloomington