Church speak against Government's boost to gambling

Today the Commons Delegated Legislative Committee will review Government proposals to double the stake and the prize money for pub gambling machines. For the first time ever, this would increase the levels of prize money available to casual gamblers to above the level of weekly benefits.

An alliance of nine UK Christian organisations is calling for the Government to heed evidence published yesterday that further undermines the proposals. Their campaign, Fruitless, calls for the Government to rethink the measures. The groups claim that the Government is in danger of breaking its commitment to establish gambling policy on evidence, and to use regulation to minimise problem gambling.

Two reports published by the Gambling Commission on the eve of this crucial Commons vote offer substantial evidence that problem gambling is more prevalent in areas of social deprivation and amongst those who drink heavily or have poor health. This indicates that the proposals, which increase the potential for people to lose money in pub gaming machines, will hit the most vulnerable hardest.

The proposals have been criticised by faith groups, academics and commentators, as the Government has been unable to produce positive evidence to support the move.

David Bradwell, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the British Methodist Church, said; “In the light of the current economic situation and the growing body of evidence it would be irresponsible to increase the stake and prize money for pub gambling machines. We only have to look at the Australian experience to see the potential a poorly regulated gambling industry has to create social problems.

“At this time of over 2 million unemployed and many families facing a difficult financial future it cannot be right to encourage increased gambling amongst the most vulnerable in our society.”

SOURCE: Methodist News Service



COMMENT: I endorse the stand by the Christian organisations against what seem to me to be demonic propsals. At a time when many people are finding life hard as a result of the banks being allowed to get away with casino capitalism, I would have thought that encouraging gambling was an act of moral abdication. I think that the alcohol/gambling link up is nothing short of toxic. I am reminded that 19th century Methodism took its stand against alcohol because it was effectively a robbery from the poor and vulnerable. This is no better. In my area I am aware of problem gamblers as young as 18. Yet they are over 40 miles away from the nearest places of help. I wonder if we should refuse to cooperate with governments who victimise the vulnerable in such a way. Certainly this calls for militancy.

"Sir, we would like to see Jesus." - A sermon for Lent 5 based on John 12: 20-33

And now we find ourselves coming ever closer to the cross. Jesus is in Jerusalem and opposition from the ruling elites is growing. And yet there is also a growth of interest from those who want to know more of Jesus. In today's gospel reading that comes from God fearing gentiles, the sort of people who will in the future be a part of Paul's gentile Christian community. This particular group come to Passover with the request;

"Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

We do not know if they are successful in this request for John's gospel is silent on the matter. And yet their request is surely relevant for those of us in the British Christian church of today. We meet at a time of decline in Christian observance. It becomes tempting to retreat into despair. And yet this can surely not be a Christian option. Yes, the times are somewhat difficult but surely the Christian option is not to bewail the lack of bums on seats but to seek to deepen our faith so that when there is a movement of God's spirit, we might be able to identify it as the surfer does in identifying the right wave to ride on.That is a reason for treating Lent as a time for serious study and meditation.

"Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

Jesus speaks of what is to befall him. He knows that his conflict with the powers can have only one result, namely his being killed. Yet to him that is not an end. Far from it. Just as the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies produces many seeds, so too will the self giving of Jesus provide much fruit. From it will come a community that will point to the Kingdom of God and the opening up of eternal life which is in this world as well as in the beyond.

"Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

And each of us is called into that work. For Jesus envisages a discipleship that is based not on self preservation but on following his path. Yes, as Lent reminds us that is a path which can be so very rocky, a path which can bring great opposition from those wedded to preserving a fallen world to that which it has become. But in this embrace of all that life can be for all people, there can be discerned the signs of God's kingdom with all its joy, liberation and inclusivity.

"Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

But there is more. This Jesus is the one who calls on us with all our diversity. For he will draw all peoples to himself. Here we see a picture of a future in which gentiles will be drawn to him. And in welcoming that, we would be well advised that this is not at the expense of Jewish people. For whilst Jesus has his conflicts with the Judaean elite, it is a perversity to use those scriptures that were produced at a time when Jewish people were fiercely split over the claims of Jesus, to even consider excluding the very people to whom Jesus belonged. To do such would be as Bonhoeffer recognised to connive in the very expulsion of Jesus himself. The wonderful reality is that Jesus is talking here about drawing to himself a rainbow people that follow his example in breaking down the walls we erect concerning race, creed, gender, sexuality and social status as well as many more such walls. For this Jesus is ultimately the one who is for all, for each and every person.

"Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

And now as with troubled heart, he continues the journey to Jerusalem, may we awake and see the wonder of divine love. As Leslie Weatherhead puts it what we will see on the cross is for a moment the courageous self giving love of God made visible to us just as the volcano gives us a glimpse of the fires beneath the crusts of this world.

And this love cannot be ignored. It grabs our very being and transform the essence of our lives.

"Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul my life my all."

So writes that Prince of hymn writers, Isaac Watts. For here is purpose for our living. We are filled with wonder at it. we cannot get away from it, not even that we want to. Oh yes, this is a time of year when we are unable to do other than marvel at the work of Jesus. He is the heart, the centre of our being. We long to learn more from him. And so like thos gentiles, we utter the words;

"Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

Time to support the unemployed

It is patently disgusting that Jobseekers allowance is currently £60.50. As more and more people become unemployed due to the mismanagement of capitalism by the British government as well as by others, it is odious that those whose dignity is stripped from them by unemployment should also have to endure crippling financial hardship. We need radical measures to ensure that the haves take second place to the have nots. This article makes the point more clearly than I can. I would myself favour a greater increase in Job Seekers Allowance than suggested in the article.

I think the time has come to ensure a radical redistribution of wealth rather than the crawling to the obscenely rich that has marked successive governments. And while on the subject, why do we tolerate second homes in a society that allows homelessness?

More and more I think that Marx has much to be said for him. Still I follow that great Jewish prophet, the Son of God Jesus Christ, who is to be found amongst those who are the victims. That is why the church needs to stress afresh the preferential option for the poor.

Mother's Day Proclamation 1870

This Mother's Day Proclamation by Julia Ward Howe represents an early attempt in the US to establish Mothers Day. Given the war policies of recent years and the British Government's tole in the arms trade, it remains relevant to us today. On Sunday, it will be read in our Mothering Sunday service at Bideford Methodist Church. After all we need to hear the word of God for today.


Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

This video says exactly why capitalism stinks

This video is from the US yet highly relevant in the UK also.





HAT TIP: Comrade Mad Priest

When a football club embraces child slavery

I know that football nowadays seems to be incohoots with greed and exploitation but sometimes the levels of depravity to which the beautiful game can sink, amazes even an old cynic like me.

This story concerning the mighty Barcelona and the bestial regime in Uzbekistan is such an example. More power to Craig Murray for drawing attention to this shocking indifference to human decency.

Mad - but he talks more sense than Bishops!

If you read are able to only one thing during this Lent, I suggest you read this sermon which takes you into mega question concerning how we treat the marginalised.

Still around

Blogging has been light for about a month. This is not because I have lost interest in blogging. Far from it. There are many matters I would like to have blogged about. However, work has been busy with a number of people needing pastoral care. Hopefully I will soon be in a position to resume opinionated blogging in the next few days.

Issues such as torture and the economy are very much on my mind as well as longing for time to properly write sermons again.

March 5th - St Piran's Day

On Cornwall's national day here is a rednition of Trelawney - a song that moves many a Cornish heart;

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