The cardinal is asking the faithful of the archdiocese of Toronto to reflect on the harmful effects of gambling, both in the community at large and in church activities, before politicians deal out a new casino for the GTA.

As part of an ambitious plan to generate revenue by expanding gambling sites in Ontario, the cash poor provincial government, through the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., is pushing for a large casino in the archdiocese of Toronto, either in downtown Toronto or a surrounding community.

Any economic benefits a new casino may bring will be eclipsed by the social harm that gambling inevitably inflicts on communities, Collins said.

"I am particularly concerned that marriages and families will be hurt or even destroyed through greater ease of access to gambling through the construction of yet another large casino," said Collins' letter, to be distributed in parishes April 27-28.

In his experience as a priest and bishop, Collins said he has "become sadly aware of the grievous suffering experienced by individuals and families because of gambling dependence." When gambling is widely available and aggressively promoted, it is difficult to convince young people of its ill effects, added Collins.

It is understandable that governments are tempted by the tax revenues and supposed economic benefits that gambling may generate, Collins said, but the benefits are "far from clear." But even if there were long-term benefits, Collins believes casinos have a "negative social impact that outweighs such benefits" and they also "have an adverse effect on the vitality and social health of our community."

He said gambling is based on a fantasy of a quick solution to financial problems and that it appeals to "the most vulnerable and the most desperate."

"This is a cruel illusion and it is not wholesome for governments to promote it," he said.

In addition to opposing casinos, Collins is also asking the Catholic community to "look carefully" at its reliance on gambling in fundraising initiatives and to consider if, as a Church, we are "caught up in an unhealthy dependence on gambling that can harm others." This would include reflection on such activities as lotteries, 50-50 draws and bingos. He has called on Catholic organizations to examine every source of revenue that is connected to gambling.

"If we are engaged in any form of gambling that is likely to cause harm, we should find alternatives as soon as possible," he said. "We must not fund our good works in ways that cause suffering to others."

Collins concludes the letter by asking the Catholic community to think carefully about the casino proposals being debated by politicians and to get involved in the discussion.

You can read the Cardinal's full pastoral letter below:

To the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto:

In my years of pastoral ministry as priest and bishop, I have become sadly aware of the grievous suffering experienced by individuals and families because of gambling dependence.

We are now engaged in debating a plan for a major new casino in our area. Although at the moment this debate concerns Toronto, many of the other proposed sites are also within our archdiocese, and so I am writing to offer pastoral guidance to our Catholic community.

This current discussion is an appropriate occasion for each of us to reflect more deeply upon the effects of gambling in our community.

In recent years governments have more and more used gambling to increase tax revenue, proposing as well that gambling benefits the economy. It is understandable that governments are tempted by the prospect of what seems to be an easy way to do that. Even if there were significant long-term economic benefits, however, and that is far from clear, the establishment of a new casino will have a negative social impact that outweighs such benefits, and will have an adverse effect on the vitality and social health of our community.

It is sometimes argued that yet another casino could be a source of employment and would attract visitors and tourists. That approach is short-sighted. We need to consider the overall effects of the expansion of gambling. I recommend that you read the Jan. 28, 2013, report of the Medical Officer of Health, Community Health Impacts of a Casino in Toronto, which concludes that "with respect to all other potential impacts, the available evidence indicates that the introduction of a new casino is likely to have greater adverse health-related impacts than beneficial impacts."

I am particularly concerned that marriages and families will be hurt or even destroyed through greater ease of access to gambling through the construction of yet another large casino. The health of families is a constant concern of our Catholic Family Services and of Catholic Charities member agencies throughout the archdiocese.

In our parishes as well we seek to strengthen families, and we directly deal with the suffering which gambling addiction causes to individuals and families. We seek to heal, and are concerned by the expansion of the capacity to harm.

Licensed gambling is undeniably legal, and in fact is being heavily promoted by the government. In view of the suffering that gambling can cause, however, it is important to consider what light both our Christian faith and reason shed on the moral issues related to it.

Occasional and small-scale gambling can be a legitimate form of entertainment, and is not inherently evil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in the section relating to respect for persons and their goods, states that games of chance or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice, but become morally unacceptable when these activities deprive people of what is necessary to provide for their needs and those of others. (1) That, unfortunately, is what happens far too often. The catechism also notes the power of gambling to enslave. Individuals, and the government, and charitable organizations as well can become enslaved by the lure of easy gambling revenue, and that is clearly not healthy.

The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario has consistently raised concerns about the proliferation of gambling, advising governments to take a more cautious approach towards promoting this source of income.

These concerns have heightened as gambling has grown over the past 30 years to become a basic source of government revenue. (2)

Gambling is inherently based on illusion — on promoting the fantasy, particularly attractive to the most vulnerable and the most desperate, that it is an easy way to provide a quick solution to the financial problems that they face. That is a cruel illusion, and it is not wholesome for governments to promote it, especially through extensive advertising.

It is sometimes said that should anyone become addicted, gambling's proceeds can be used to treat their addiction. Apart from the fact that this is rather dubious logic, as it makes more sense not to cause the problem in the first place, problem gambling is a serious public health concern. (3) There is evidence that a significant amount of revenue is derived from people who are most vulnerable to gambling. (4)

When gambling is so extensively available, and is so aggressively promoted, it is also very difficult to protect our young people from viewing gambling as a worthwhile activity, whose negative effects are masked. (5)

As we consider this important issue in the civil society in which we all live and participate as citizens, we should also look carefully at whether we as a Church are also caught up in an unhealthy dependence on gambling that can harm others. I ask all Catholic organizations to examine any connection which they might have with gambling as a source of revenue. If we are engaged in any form of gambling that is likely to cause harm, we should find alternatives as soon as possible. We must not fund our good works in ways that cause suffering to others.

As a Catholic community, we should ponder carefully the proposals before our elected officials and add informed commentary to the discussion. Is yet another major casino a truly wholesome development that enhances the quality of life in our community? Does even more gambling make for a better society for individuals and for families? Can we support the further extension of a reality which already causes significant harm to the most vulnerable among us?

If you or someone you know is struggling with such an addiction, I urge you to address the problem. The Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline (1-888-230-3505) is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They provide a free, confidential and anonymous service to people throughout Ontario in more than 140 languages. We have also established a web page: www.archtoronto.org/gaming to provide background resources concerning this issue, to help educate and support our Catholic community.

May we join together in caring for the most vulnerable among us and, guided by a concern for the common good, in creating a community that is a truly wholesome place where individuals and families may flourish.

Sincerely in Christ,
Thomas Cardinal Collins
Archbishop of Toronto

(1) "2413 – Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant," Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Respect for Persons and their Goods."

(2) "Gambling as an activity, in and of itself, is not a major concern. However, there are a number of serious concerns about the ramifications of gambling in our current culture. They are as follows: 1. Gambling is becoming a basic source of government revenue in our society. It is, therefore, becoming institutionalized and as a society we will become increasingly dependent upon it. We will lose our freedom of choice about controlling it or eliminating it; 2. There is clear evidence that a disproportionate amount of the revenue from gambling comes from the poorer sections of society; 3. As our society reaches saturation point for gambling forms and outlets, the marketing is becoming very aggressive and the pressure on people to gamble increases; 4. Some of the forms of gambling being introduced have been shown to be addictive. This is particularly the case with VLT's; 5. From experience in other societies, an increase in social problems and the presence of organized crime can be anticipated; 6. The introduction of establishments, such as casinos, in a community brings employment and attracts visitors. When additional costs are considered, it is not clear if the cost benefit ratio is entirely favourable; 7. It is not possible in this atmosphere to insulate young people from opportunities to gamble," Social Affairs Commission, Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, On Gambling, July 1998.

(3) Medical Officer of Health, Toronto Board of Health, Community Health Impacts of a Casino in Toronto, "Summary," Jan. 28, 2013.

(4) "36 per cent of Ontario gambling revenue is derived from people with moderate and severe gambling problems." Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario, The Impact of Gambling Expansion in Ontario, Q & A, November 2012.

(5) The average amount each Ontarian spent in 2009 was $455, compared to $105 in 1992. It is estimated that 1.2 per cent-3.4 per cent of Ontarians are affected by moderate and severe problem gambling. The highest rate of moderate and severe gambling problems (6.9 per cent) is among young adults, aged 18 to 24: Problem Gambling Project, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Problem Gambling: The Issues, the Options, 2012.