Hypocritical Catholic Archbishop Attacks Philippine Gambling

Lagdameo said gambling was an activity conceived of desparation, as poor people will try almost anything to get money.

Catholic Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, asserted this weekend that gambling was popular in the area because of the high level of poverty, conveniently ignoring both gambling's and the Church's actions concerning the poor.

Lagdameo said gambling was an activity conceived of desperation, as poor people will try almost anything to get money.

The Archbishop did not mention that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office donates all lottery profits to organizations that help the poor, and that the lottery is designed as a method to funnel middle-class contributions to the destitute.

Even marketing the lotteries targets the well-to-do, encouraging participation as an exciting and fun way to further social programs and help those less fortunate.

Perhaps the Archbishop thought that the tiny chance of winning the lottery made the purchase of a ticket to be as likely to return anything as a miracle occurring. Of course, isn't that why the poor spend their last cents on the collection plate?

And at least the spending of funds gathered by the lottery is specifically earmarked to go to poor families; such transparency will never touch the Church coffers.

Perhaps what really bothers the Archbishop is the growth of gambling expenditures versus the decline in religious donation; of course, at least the lottery pays off once in a while.