The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-08-12
Gambling and Taxes

: The naient nubc sometimes can be excused
for becoming little more than annoyed Tor all me
huabaloe made about gambling. Especially "heh
good honest people by the hundreds enjoy innocent
games as recreation and as means of raising tunds
10 support projects of tremendous benefit 10 the
commonwealth First of all, let II be remembered
that gambling as such is not SINFUL there IS notnhg
wrong about it, 1t is the abuse of it that becomes
sinful. Just as the abuse of sex, OF pubic Trust
or OF freedom OF the press is sinful.
Catholics and great numbers of their good non
Catholic neghbors throughout these United States
have had tradition of raising funds Tor lheil
churches and institutions ny various forms OF ran
ling booths Al church festivals. II is known that at
such benefit programs conducted by Cathohc par
ishes many non.Cathohcs rally round to help IN
good nei2hboriy way we'll as to ENJOY an fhho-
cent and harmless form Of recreation.
There is no need to try to hide the fact that
for some time nationwide effort has been mace
to try TO embarrass the Catholic Church in this mat
ter by pointing the finger of shame at gambling
Insstence has been constant the laws which pro
hibt lotteries, although no one seems TO ADVERT
to the fact that decades ago when such laws went
into the books the Legislators had no intention
OF legislatng against these benefits. But it seems,
the modern practice is not TO interpret law accord
Ing to the mind of the lawmaker but according
to the wishes Of pressure groups of the hour.
Through all Of this il may be just trfe ap-
rropriate to recall that gambling at races is recog
nized, and that taxes even collected for IT, one
can ne pafuOned LOT asking II II n I'dliy shipllhG
as such that is the object Of The ire of the law
and those who urge its application
The strong and vigorous attack on Catholic
schools today is not uot nationwide; il is worldwide
And the reason is not difficult to find for 1t is the
one thing urged and constantly hammered at by
the communists The general public is seldom II
reminded of the tremendous financial contribu
tion made to nation by Catholic people who pay
taxes for public schools and support their own
besides They feel encouraged and glow with warm
love toward their non-Catholic neahbors who come
to the parish festivals TO help them raise money to
support their schools which at the same time
great saving to those same non-CathoHcs Of their
community Thus parish school with 500 students
is great financial burden off the backs OF parents
In any Of our public school districts
But nothing daunted about tax burdens, palatlal
public schools continue to be the accepted thing
Of the day. They have need 10 be supported by
any community benefit programs. Catholics and
non.Caho4ics alike will pay the taxes And one
wonders what would happen to the support OF
them even if here in Ohio they did not receive
a great deal of tax revenue by way of whiSkey and
cigarette taxes These two items can be and often
evils too Just like gambling, when abused, they
are sinful Possibly someone make big head
line on. of the abuse of alcohol contributing to
the erection of new elaborate public schools.