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Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Church adamant: No way to slot machines
By Danilo V. Adorador III
THE church is now training its guns on the proposed operations of slot machines in a hotel under construction beside Limketkai Center this city.
Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese spokesman Monsigñor Elmer Abacahin threatened to mount a massive protest against the slot machines operation.
"There is no compromise. We will oppose this and we will not allow the culture of gambling to flourish here," Monsigñor Abacahin told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro yesterday.
Abacahin said various civic leaders have already registered their willingness to the church's led opposition.
"They have called me and said they are willing to join the protest against this slot machines operation in the city," Abacahin said, adding that the oppositors may position themselves in front of the Limketkai Center.
The church spokesman also hit some members of the City Council for "leading the people to believe that slot machines will not affect the poor workers."
"While they say that our poor constituents have no access to the slot machines, how about their employers?" Abacahin said.
Not to wonder about
Abacahin explained "gambling has a domino effect on the ordinary constituents."
"Ayaw ingna nga hatagan nila ug increase ang ilang mga workers kung makadaug sila sa sugal? Unya kung mapilde ang kwarta nga angay i-sweldo sa ilang mga trabahante? (Don't say they will raise their workers' salary out of their gambling winnings? How about if they lose the money intended for their workers' wages? Abacahin said.
Abacahin likewise lashed out at councilors who said the presence of slot machines will attract foreign tourists.
"Don't we have anything good to offer the tourists but gambling," Abacahin said.
The church is also contending on the moral aspect of the slot machine operation.
"This will erode our values. We are inundated with wrong cultures: the culture of contraceptives and the culture of gambling," Abacahin complained.
Abacahin also reacted to the statements of Councilor Reynaldo Advincula who said during the council deliberation that he is not afraid of the church.
Formality
But Abacahin explained that the church is not up to confrontations and that it is not afraid in its opposition to gambling.
"It is their right to sponsor gambling and it is also our right and moral obligation to oppose it," Abacahin said.
Earlier, Councilor Alvin Calingin questioned whether the committee on Games and Amusement prior conducted consultations prior to the endorsement for the slot machines operation.
"Are there sufficient public consultations before this is brought to the city council? Does it have consent from affected sectors and religious groups?" Calingin said before abstaining to vote on the matter.
Calingin also questioned the proposed location of the slot machines, saying the council's previous resolution provided that it will be located inside a hotel in Cugman, this city.
The new location of the slot machines, he said, is proximate to schools and churches.
Abacahin echoed the same view saying the proposed gambling site is near the San Antonio Cathedral and the Don Mariano Polytechnic State College (MPSC).
(June 8, 2005 issue)
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