THE GOVERNMENT has granted permission for the horse-racing industry to proceed with Sunday racing and race meets have already been scheduled to take place before the end of the year. The result is that gambling has once again been placed on the front burner and the Church has been awakened from its slumber and is readying itself to do battle.

Different direction

Well, that is if we are to take seriously pronouncements from the Church's principals, whose previously seemingly turned blind eye may now be pointed in a different direction.

I was just wondering, though, when the Church hosts bingo parties and raffles cakes, whether this is any different from what the lottery people do. Gambling is defined as the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome, the primary intent being winning additional money and/or material goods. Based on that definition, isn't this a case of the Church saying do as I say but not as I do? Or maybe it is the day and not the actual gambling that the Church has a problem with in this instance?

Does the term moral authority mean anything to the Church, or are its representatives deliberately going out of their way to make themselves irrelevant?

I am, etc.,

ROBERT MITCHELL

mitcib@yahoo.ca

Christiana PO

Manchester