Anti-Vegasization of Vancouver

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As part of my role as a priest in one of the downtown Vancouver churches I was asked (and happily agreed) to sign a letter inked by clergy & staff from many of the neighbourhood churches opposing the creation of a mega-casino in downtown Vancouver. Here is the image of the letter and my signature with those of my colleagues. You can read more about this issue (from the side opposed) at Vancouver not Vegas.

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3 comments

  • Comment Link Jennifer Grove Tuesday, 15 March 2011 03:12 posted by Jennifer Grove

    Way to go, Chris! I hope other "groups" are registering their opposition also, not just clergy. It would be a shame for those in favor to dismiss the entire opposition on the grounds of "religious" intolerance. If there are other groups also opposing, then your group will indicate a shared value with them, and that creates a larger meta-demographic which you can benefit from.

    Blessings and good luck!
    ~J

  • Comment Link Chris Dierkes Tuesday, 15 March 2011 04:49 posted by Chris Dierkes

    J,

    Yeah it's getting protest from a number of groups across the city. I could be wrong but I sense the tide might be turning a bit against. The difficulty (as I understand it) has to do with jurisdictional stuff between the provincial level and the city level. The current Mayor and his staff are quite open to having the citizenry voice opposition.

    It would be two football stadiums in length and something like the biggest casino in Western Canada (downtown???).

  • Comment Link OV Tuesday, 15 March 2011 06:06 posted by OV

    Nice to see the church's take some civil responsibility, and shake off a bit of the separation of church and state shackles that have long hobbled them. Society needs a moral voice and the church should be an excellent source for that, and when it isn't it is an indication that some kind of reform is needed in the church.

    I read the other day that the doctors were also taking a united stand against this. Also heard some speculation that a decision on this would be postponed until after the next election -- if that is the case effort should be put forth to make this an election issue with consequences of recall.

    There have been numerous studies that show that for every dollar brought in by gambling there are two to three dollars in social costs. It's a losing proposition for everybody except the cronies that own it, (and even if they do land up mismanaging it so badly that it does lose money the taxpayer is there to bail them out). Hopefully we can stop this before it becomes even more painful than it is now. I think there were lots of things this city needed more than a half billion dollar roof that won't close in the rain.

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