AMERICA/ARGENTINA – Faced with the legalization of gambling: we need to "promote the culture of work, not squeeze the poor" – Agenzia Fides

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Cordoba (Agenzia Fides) - "Legalizing gambling is squeezing the poor", denounces the Social and Addiction Pastoral of the Archdiocese of Crdoba, in view of the imminent discussion at the provincial level, of the bill that proposes to legalize gambling and online gambling. Expressing, once again, deep concern, the ecclesial body underlines that the initiative will favor a trade that takes advantage of the fragility of the weakest, while "the State must protect the fragile". The Social Pastoral rejects the pretext that the legalization of gambling will involve allocating a part of the income collected by the State for social assistance and programs to prevent or treat addictions to gambling. "It is like giving the poor a part of what was previously taken from them so that someone in between can run a business. Legalizing gambling means encouraging gambling". The statement, sent to Agenzia Fides, also questions the "pedagogical effect" that is to be attributed to this law and reiterates the need to "promote the culture of work, not gambling". In a country that has more than 60 percent of its children and adolescents immersed in poverty, "it is urgent to generate proposals that generate sources of decent work, and that promote and foster a culture of work and commitment. This bill clearly goes in the opposite direction". Finally, the Social and Addiction Pastoral of the Archdiocese of Crdoba asks legislators for "responsible attitudes in favor of the common good, creative initiatives and policies that increase jobs" and hopes that "next year we will work all together in search of tools and actions that improve the quality of life of citizens, especially of children and adolescents mired in poverty". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 23/12/2021)

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AMERICA/ARGENTINA - Faced with the legalization of gambling: we need to "promote the culture of work, not squeeze the poor" - Agenzia Fides