The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-09-24

stakes are high, will make short work
science. Indeed, il there We're nothing
else resulting from gambling but the
development Of fierce uncomfortable
passion that alone would be sufticicn.
to make repeated and protracted card
playing dangerous pastime. The
passion develops with dreadful rapid
ity and in some countries it's ravages
are worse than those of drink. 1t in
wolves scandalous waste Of time and
a neglect Of the most sacred obliga-
tions OF life; it easily leads an unsuc-
cessful player to crime to recoup his
losses and the sequel of it all is too
frequently the felon's cell or the sui
cide's grave.
AS to public gambling houses, Cath
olic theologians agree that their pro-
prietors are guilty of the most griev-
GUS sin Of scandal and of cooperation
in crime. The same is true of those
who contribute money to form gam
bling clubs which arc public, or equiv
alently so. One great authority af-
firms that the governments which au-
thorize gambling houses do SO for the
same reason that they license houses
of ill fame, viz. for inspection and
control and to prevent greater evils.
La in Sn1 ,aS
wrong, provided a proper ratio is OBJ
served between the money paid, the
prize offered, and the hope of winning.
Some maintain that the profit Of the
lottery should not exceed the market
value Of the objects played for; but
others regard this as rigorism, and re-
quire only an equal chance for all con-
testants, along with a hope of WIN
ming which varies with the amount
invested. Others will have it that in
lotteries for benevolent purposes the
purchase Of tickets is merely a char
liable contribution for the cause and
has little or no hope attached to it
of q return for the investment. New
ertheless, although not. intrtnsically
| wrong, lotteries have led to such grave
| abuses that in many countries they
are forbidden. In the game of policy,
| for instance, it is of common knowl-
edge that poor people who are other
wise most estinable sometimes even
sell their bed clothes to purchase a
| ticket.
What is true of gambling in general
Is also true Of the speculative deal
| ings of exchanges. They lead to the
disturbance of the natural prices OF
commodities and securities, do grave
injury to producers and consumers
and are frequently the result of most
dishonest methods in influencing the
market. ....
| The Catholic sentiment with regard
to another kind of gambling which is
not practiced in what are properly
called "hells," but in what have ceased
to be called homes when women, even
mothers of families, and young girls
spend whole. days and nights at cards
is pretty well known. 1t has been de-
nounced again and again in most with
ering language by preacher whose
reputation is world wide. A man who
CANDLES is bad enough, but a woman
gambler is indescribable.
From very early times gambling was
forbidden by canon law. Two of the
| oldest among the so-called canons OF
the Apostles forbade games of chance
under pain of accommodation tc
clergy and laity alike. The Council OF
Elvira in 306 excluded from the Church
for year any one guilty of gambling
The Lateran Council in 1915 forbade
clerics to be present at games OF
chance. The Council of Trent COM
manded the ancient canons to be OBJ
served and other particular councils
declared that playing at dice and
cards was unbecoming and forbidden
to clerics. There was some discus
sion as to whether or not even chess
was forbidden. The Council Of May
nooth, 1900, inveighs against care
playing because of the waste of time
and possible scandal. Nowadays il
is commonly held that positive eccle-
siastical law only forbids games OF
chance even to the clergy when ir
themselves, or for some extrinsic rea.
son, such as loss of time and scandal
they are forbidden by the natural law
Such in general is the attitude Of
the Church towards gambling. 1t is
not extreme. not exaggerated, MOI
fanatical. 1t admits that games Of
chance, even for money, are not fun.
damentally and fntrinsically wrong
but it warns us that the abuses aris.
ing from the habit of gambling are
quick to ensue, that the passion i.
| hard fo control and ferrihIo II, tho r,,;x