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Bishop tells Rota residents to weigh decision on casino
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Posted on Oct 25 1999
Bishop Tomas A. Camacho has called on voters on Rota to weigh seriously their actions on legislative initiative that will allow casino gambling in the island municipality in view of its social, spiritual and moral impact to the community.
The Catholic Church leader reiterated his position expressed in a earlier pastoral letter issued in which he strongly linked morality to commercial gambling.
In the letter, Camacho said gambling becomes immoral when certain conditions exist, such as if the action upon which the bet is made is immoral, or that the form of gaming is fraudulent or gaining money has become the chief motive.
He also underscored the need to examine the social conditions associated with such activities, noting that commercial gambling may spawn a host of problems for the community, like crime.
“While promoted as a way to bring economic revitalization to a community, experience has shown that commercial gambling only serves to concentrate wealth in the hands of a few and to harm small business,” said Camacho.
The new pastoral letter, issued last week by the Archdiocese, came as Rota prepares to vote on the popular casino initiative that must get 75 percent of the votes cast during the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
If approved, it will permit the island municipality to establish casino gambling business that local officials hope will spur the municipality’s ailing tourism industry and boost revenues and employment opportunities for the community.
Tinian passed the same initiative early this decade, allowing the establishment of the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino which has suffered major obstacles since its opening in April 1998 due to the impact of the Asian recession.
“Next month, the voters of … and Rota will be making a very important decision. A decision that will affect them and their children for generations to come,” said Camacho.
