Wednesday, June 23, 1999
Bishop joins drive against casinos
Muench, other church leaders to visit Patton
BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Covington Bishop Robert Muench is one of about 10 religious leaders expected to meet with Gov. Paul Patton next week to state their opposition to organized gambling in Kentucky.
The June 28 session is another sign that religious groups across the state are mobilizing to convince legisla tors that casinos should be kept out of the state.
Mr. Patton has proposed placing casinos in or near large hotels if gambling is approved by the legislature and subsequently by state and local voters. He has said that the casinos would act as magnets for convention business and could raise up to $300 million a year.
The governor agreed to the June 28 meeting after talking with the Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper, executive director of the Lexington-based Kentucky Council of Churches, which is spearheading the religious opposition to Mr. Pat ton's proposal.
“He agreed to the meeting,” said Melissa Forsythe, spokesperson for the governor's office. “He thinks that this is a topic that needs a lot of discussion.”
Bishop Muench was out of town Tuesday, but diocese spokesman the Rev. Thomas Sacksteder has high hopes about the planned meeting.
“I would hope that there will be a balanced approach to gambling issues and an objective look at the topic of gambling and (to) see the long-range effects that it has on society. It has a tendency to bring out the negative versus the positive.”
Said the Rev. Ms. Kemper: “I think very clearly that all the religious leaders want to impress (on the governor) that this is not wise public policy. I think he will listen openly. He's looking for information.”
While gambling supporters often cite more jobs, tourists and greater economic health for a community, the negative repercussions, including increases in divorce, bankrupt cy, domestic abuse and credit-card embezzlement, usually crop up within three to five years, she said.
She added that the June 28 meeting will not be the end of the religious groups' opposition. Kentucky Council of Churches is organizing an August workshop to train about 150 people to get the word out that gambling in the commonwealth is not a good idea.
The goal, she said, is to convince legislators not to put a gambling issue before voters.
“It's to educate people to the realities of” gambling, she said.
Catholic Conference of Kentucky, the Frankfort-based policy arm of the four Catholic dioceses in the state, is working with the Kentucky Council of Churches.
“What we're doing right now is simply educating and trying to prepare for any debate,” said spokesman Scott Wegenast.
He noted a concern that if a gambling issue makes it past the 2000 General Assembly, the religious groups will have to oppose casino developers.
That would be a classic David and Goliath battle, he said.
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