Gambling as harmful as drugs, Maltese bishops tell MPs
The Bishops of Malta and Gozo have urged for consideration of the harmful consequences of gambling for society, in a message to MPs currently legislating amendments to the gaming laws.
In a two-page statement, Archbishop Paul Cremona, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Vicar General Annetto Depasquale said gambling had “serious consequences” on individuals, families and society in general.
The Bishops called it a “result of a culture that is losing the true meaning of life and social life, a culture which measures all by the bottom line and wants solely promotes so-called economic progress.”
They stressed that compulsive gambling was “just as harmful as alcohol and drug dependence”, and that when individuals lose control over their actions, gambling becomes inhuman and immoral.
In their statement, the Bishops warned against all forms of gambling, which may appear harmless at first, but that could easily lead people towards harmful habits.
While they urged MPs to act responsibly during the debate in parliament when amending the proposed legislation, the Bishops stressed that the same MPs must be “mindful of the serious consequences which compulsive gambling could cause to individuals, their families and society in general.”
The Bishops stressed that MPs should not only consider economic progress, but also the common good.
“Legislation is democratic when it truly safeguards the freedom all society. Society is free when it is capable to limit the freedom of the powerful that can be detrimental to the weak,” the Bishops said, while adding that in the case of gambling, “addiction weakened the freedom of its victims.”
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
