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MANSFIELD — After successfully preventing local gambling venues from coming to town in recent years, ‘all bets are off’ as a group of Richland County pastors are now speaking out against a state gambling proposal.
A group of clergy representing eighty-two churches publicly announced their opposition to State Issue 6. The proposal would amend the state constitution and legalize a gambling casino in Clinton County.
Held outside Mansfield City Hall, the press conference was organized by the Richland Community Family Coalition, and consisted of several clergy spokesmen: Reverend Doug Lewis of Main Street United Methodist Church, Reverend Steve Burggraf of the First Alliance Church, and Reverend El Akuchie of Godsfield House of Prayer.
Reverend Lewis believes that casinos target the poor. “The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It is the LORD who gives a person the ability to produce wealth. On the flip side, gambling rewards persons who are idle. As Jesus stated, “You cannot serve both GOD and money.”
Reverend Burggraf said that newfound wealth quickly turns to financial and emotional loss. “Gambling has three phases: winning, losing, and desperation. The effects will be felt by surrounding family members, and ultimately the community.”
Reverend Akuchie stated: “In light of the global financial crisis, now more than ever wisdom is needed. On behalf of faith leaders from eighty-two area congregations, we clearly believe casino gambling will create more problems than what it will solve.
“While this issue legalizes only one casino, loopholes reveal the possibility of additional casinos associated with Native American tribes who already partner with the proposed operator. Clearly the devil is in the details. Should Issue 6 be approved by Ohio voters, it would indeed lead to a new chapter in Ohio’s history: Chapter 13-bankruptcy.”
“While this issue legalizes only one casino, loopholes reveal the possibility of additional casinos associated with Native American tribes who already partner with the proposed operator. Clearly the devil is in the details. Should Issue 6 be approved by Ohio voters, it would indeed lead to a new chapter in Ohio’s history: Chapter 13-bankruptcy.”
Reverend El Akuchie, Godsfield House of Prayer
Media packets were given to attending members of the media. The packets included a brief history of recent local resistance to gambling. The clergy also provided case studies associating gambling with crime, suicide and domestic violence.
A former casino operator has proposed a casino be built in southwestern Ohio. Lyle Berman, the ring-leader, hopes to bring gambling to Ohio to tap into a less competitive market. He previously owned a casino in Las Vegas that went bankrupt.
Two years ago the faith community successfully put a stop to efforts to bring off-track betting to Mansfield and also Madison Township. Mansfield City Council voted 5-3 against a betting parlor from coming to Chris’ Cafe on West Fourth Street.
Thistledown, the applicant for both proposals eventually backed out of the Madison Township venue after announcing it was struggling financially.
Editor’s note: Issue 6 was defeated, becoming the fourth gambling related ballot measure to be defeated by Ohio voters since 1990.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Proverbs Chapter One, “Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out in the gateways of the city she makes her speech.”
