PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica District of the Methodist Church, the Rev. Philip G. Robinson, yesterday denounced the Government's inconsistency on gambling, for its steadfastly saying no to casinos while opening the floodgates to other games of chance.
"We support the Government for its position on casinos, but its behaviour is like that of a traffic policeman at an intersection. While it holds up the right hand saying no to casinos, the left hand is waving all others through, granting them the right of way," he said.
He was delivering the sermon at the 187th meeting and the seventh annual conference of the Methodist Jamaica District under its revised constitution at the Excelsior Education Centre, Mountain View Avenue, Kingston.
Speaking against the background of the church's theme for this year: "In pursuit of our mission - warning and teaching... that we may present everyone mature in Christ," the Rev. Mr. Robinson said there was a "clear and present danger" of the nation losing its way and of the church losing its sense of direction and purpose.
The church must continue to warn the nation as much about the consequences of individual sin as about institutionalised crime and social evils, he told the large congregation which included two Government Ministers Education Minister, Maxine Henry-Wilson, and Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman.
With specific reference to gambling, he said people were fooling themselves if they believed that gambling was a harmless social pastime. "The money obtained by the winners is money lost by someone else and there is no corresponding production," he said.
His denunciation has come amid criticisms that church leaders who have in the past been strident in their opposition to a national lottery and the introduction of casino gambling, have largely kept silent in recent times despite a proliferation of games of chance across
the island.
Acknowledging the popularity of the games, he said more and more people, including many in the church, were "picking 'threes' and 'fives'; delighting themselves in seeking 'Dollaz' and demonstrating a love of 'Lotto'."
Rev. Robinson described gambling as among the most iniquitous of habits as dangerous as drug addiction resulting in children and homes being deprived of money that would otherwise have been used for food, clothing and education.
The fact that part proceeds from gambling are used for some social good in support of health, education and sport, cannot sanitise a "tarnished deal", he said.
He insisted, too, that no church organisation should knowingly accept any money from a gambling source.
He told the thousands of Methodist Christians from across the island gathered under a large tent on the school compound, that the church must remain focused on its mission - that of rescuing the perishing, caring for the dying and telling people of a salvation that is available through Jesus Christ.
"There is an urgent need to bring our people to a place of maturity," he said. "The Church can no longer afford the luxury of spiritual infancy among its adult members and among its leaders," he said to shouts of approval.
Yesterday's service was attended by representatives from Methodist churches in the Caribbean, as well as from other denominations.
