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1100 West 42nd Street Suite #210
Indianapolis, IN 46208
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CONTACT: Lynne DeMichele 317/924-1321
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March 4, 2002
Church leaders anti gambling news conference tomorrow
What: News conference by Indiana church leaders, convened by United Methodist Bishop Woodie W. White. Immediately following, Bishop White will personally delivery a letter of protest regarding expansion of gambling to Gov. Frank O'Bannon, along with a copy of a public statement signed by Indiana church judicatory leaders
When: 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 5
Where: Statehouse Rotunda
Who: (list of religious leaders who expect to be present)
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The Rev. Dr. Woodie W. White, Bishop, Indiana Area United Methodist Church
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Dr. Larry Mason, Executive Minister, Indiana Baptist Convention (American Baptist)
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The Rt. Rev. Catherine Waynick, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
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Fr. Thomas Murphy, representing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
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Mr. Curt Shaw, General Superintendent, Western Yearly Meeting, Society of Friends
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The Rev. Dr. Richard Spleth, Regional Minister, Christian Church of Indiana, Disciples of Christ
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Mr. Alan Weinacht, General Superintendent of the Indiana Yearly Meeting, Society of Friends
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The Rev. Jill Hudson, Executive Presbyter, Whitewater Valley Presbytery, Presbyterian Church, USA
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The Rev. Stephen C. Gray, Conference Minister, Indiana-Kentucky Conference, United Church of Christ
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The Rev. Michael Jones, pastor, Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis
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The Rev. Frank Alexander, Pastor, Oasis of Hope Baptist Church, Indianapolis
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The Rev. Thomas Brown, Pastor, Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church (to be represented by the Rev. Derrick King)
Why: To protest any legislation that would expand legalized gambling in Indiana, and to urge Gov. O'Bannon to veto any such legislation, should it reach his desk.
NOTE: Tomorrow press kits will be available containing a copy of the Public Statement by the church leaders, along with information regarding the Indiana Coalition of Anti Legalized Gambling. If you would like to arrange in advance for interviews with any of the participants, please contact Lynne DeMichele at 317/924-1321.
# # #
Public Statement of Indiana
Religious Leaders
Regarding Expansion Legalized Gambling in Indiana
March 5, 2002
(To be presented at special news conference ... Indiana State House ... Indianapolis)
As leaders of state religious bodies we assemble to express our objection to the current legislative proposals to expand significantly our state's dependence on legalized gambling.
In our judgment such a course is profoundly unwise as public policy, and morally indefensible in its implication of state encouragement for citizens to divert personal income, often needed for basic family support, in the hope of long-odds windfall gains.
We support the Governor's repeated objection to expanded gambling and the report of the Indiana Gambling Impact Study Commission's recommendation in December, 1999 that "Indiana should support ongoing research to monitor the fiscal, economic and social impacts of legal and illegal gaming in the state" and that "surveys of Indiana residents, with over-samples of frequent gamblers, should be undertaken at least every two years, for at least the next ten years." (Page 28)
Such information gathering has not been authorized to date in the state. Public policy decisions are being made based only on the revenue flowing to the state and local government units
... Not the costs to cities, counties and the state in services provided.
... Not the losses to other businesses.
... Not the drain of Indiana money to out-of-state casino owners.
... Not the financial devastation which results from uncontrolled problem and addictive gambling.
... Not the lost time and productivity of Hoosier workers.
... Not the increases in public welfare and other services.
... Not the thousands of Hoosier youth being drawn into compulsive gambling habits. (All studies show this figure to be double that of adults, including one such study done in Indiana in 1998 by Louisiana State University.) There are studies available from other states, from economists and social scientists, which conclude that such costs in fact exceed the constantly repeated "benefits."
In addition to such measurable indicators, great distress and pain for individuals and families result over and over again in marital tension, career destruction, bankruptcy and all manner of personal disintegration and tragedy. As religious leaders we know these stories.
The present legislative momentum toward the enlargement of gambling options is reflected in proposals affecting every form of current legal gambling. It is not worthy of our state to attempt to address its public financial strains by enticing its citizens to increase their personal financial risks.
For one hundred seventy-three years Indiana survived periods of economic stringency and prospered in times of economic gain without recourse to legalized gambling. For the past thirteen years we have been abandoning this strong tradition, first with the promise (1989) that only the lottery would be allowed, more recently (1993) with casinos. Now, without any opportunity for public votes, the path of unlimited numbers of gambling options and outlets is clearly signaled as the public policy toward which we move.
We object! At the very least we demand that Hoosier voters be allowed to speak directly to such proposals in a statewide referendum. We speak a united word, urging our constituents across denominational lines and our elected representatives to honor the wisdom of earlier Hoosiers and the recommendation of restraint upon expansion from our own state study group (1999).
Our common religious roots do not always result in unified conclusions as to public policy. In this matter we speak with a single voice No further expansion! We all believe that human communities are called to care for one another, not to exploit one another for momentary "amusement" or illusory common gains.
We urgently plead with our public leaders to put aside, in the days immediately ahead, the temptation of "easy money" for the state, to probe deeply their own central convictions as to the state they shape for today's Hoosiers, and the state we will all leave to our children and all who follow us.
###
Signatories:
* The Rev. Dr. Woodie W. White, Bishop, Indiana Area United Methodist Church
* Dr. Larry Mason, Executive Minister, Indiana Baptist Convention (American Baptist)
* The Rt. Rev. Catherine Waynick, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
* Fr. Thomas Murphy, representing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
* Mr. Curt Shaw, General Superintendent, Western Yearly Meeting, Society of Friends
* The Rev. Dr. Richard Spleth, Regional Minister, Christian Church of Indiana, Disciples of Christ
* Mr. Alan Weinacht, General Superintendent of the Indiana Yearly Meeting, Society of Friends
* The Rev. Jill Hudson, Executive Presbyter, Whitewater Valley Presbytery, Presbyterian Church, USA
* The Rev. Stephen C. Gray, Conference Minister, Indiana-Kentucky Conference, United Church of Christ
* The Rev. Michael Jones, pastor, Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis
* The Rev. Frank Alexander, Pastor, Oasis of Hope Baptist Church, Indianapolis
* The Rev. Thomas Brown, Pastor, Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church (to be represented by the Rev. Derrick King)
Other signatories, unable to be present:
* Dr. Ted R. Lee, Superintendent, Indianapolis District, Church of the Nazarene
* The Rev. Richard Shockey, State Minister, Indiana Ministries of the Church of God
* The Rev. James R. Stuck, Bishop Indiana-Kentucky Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
* Dr. Charles W. Sullivan, Executive Director, State Convention of Baptist in Indiana