wfn.org | UCC President joins fight against Ohio casinos

[powellb@ucc.org]

Oct. 30, 1996
Office of Communication
United Church of Christ
Hans Holznagel
(216) 736-2214
holznagh@ucc.org
Nancy M. Erikson
(216) 736-2200
Eriksonn@ucc.org
On the World Wide Web:  http://www.ucc.org

United Church of Christ president joins fight
against riverboat casinos in Ohio

      CLEVELAND -- The national president of the 1.5-million-
member United Church of Christ is joining several Ohio
religious people and organizations in opposing state Issue 1,
which would legalize riverboat casino gambling in four
counties in Ohio.
      With national offices in Cleveland and approximately
140,000 members in some 460 congregations in Ohio alone, the
United Church of Christ "is vitally interested in the state's
social, economic and spiritual health," said the Rev. Paul H.
Sherry.  He said although support for public education and job
creation are important goals for Ohioans, casino gambling is
an inadequate and dangerous way to achieve these goals.  In
fact, Sherry says, "the only institutions certain to benefit
greatly from casino gambling are the few big business
interests that have poured large sums of money into a huge
political campaign to pass Issue 1."
      "Casino gambling often induces those least able to
afford it to gamble away family resources in the vain pursuit
of the illusion, rather than the promise of security and well-
being,"  Sherry said.  The United Church of Christ is the 1957
union of the Congregational Christian Churches and the
Evangelical and Reformed Church.

[Editors Please Note:  Full text of Rev. Paul Sherry's
statement below.]

      On Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1996, the voters of Ohio will decide
whether to allow the creation of eight floating casinos in the
state.  Today I join many religious people and organizations,
including the Ohio Council of Churches and the Interchurch
Council of Greater Cleveland, in opposing Ballot Issue 1. 
Along with numerous Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant
colleagues, I believe the introduction of casino gambling into
Ohio will diminish the quality of life for our state and its
residents.
      With our national headquarters in Cleveland and
approximately 140,000 members in some 460 congregations in
Ohio, the United Church of Christ is vitally interested in the
state's social, economic and spiritual health.  Other states'
experiences suggest that any benefits from riverboat
gambling -- such as relatively modest amounts of support for
public schools or small increases in certain kinds of
employment -- are likely to be outweighed by rises in such
accompanying social ills as alcoholism, job absenteeism and
rising crime rates.  Casino gambling often induces those least
able to afford it to gamble away family resources in the vain
pursuit of the illusion, rather than the promise, of security
and well-being.  Of particular concern is the dramatic
increase in compulsive gambling associated with the opening of
casinos, and the disastrous impact on families caused by
casinos' encouragement of this addictive behavior.
      Strong public education and the creation of plentiful,
meaningful jobs with decent pay and benefits are laudable
goals for Ohio, its cities and its businesses to pursue.  Our
state's public schools need a fair, adequate and equitable
funding system.  Our state?s workers need the opportunity to
work at jobs that support their families and contribute to the
well-being of their communities.  Casino gambling is an
inadequate and dangerous response to both concerns.  In fact,
the only institutions certain to benefit greatly from casino
gambling are the few big business interests that have poured
large sums of money into huge political campaign to pass Issue
1.
      Surely there are better, more direct ways to improve
public education and support the creation of needed jobs.  May
God grant all of us who live and work in Ohio a commitment to
the needs of our neighbors, along with the creativity and
discipline to support our schools and work together for a
strong and just economy.  And may God grant us the wisdom to
find better ways than legalizing casino gambling.
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