Religious leaders pray for ‘timely death’ of casino bill
Adam Greenway, president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, spoke out against expanded gambling Tuesday in the rotunda of the state Capitol in Frankfort Catholic bishops in Kentucky issued a stern warning Tuesday about the potential consequences if lawmakers approve a proposal to legalize casinos. Photo by John Flavell | AP
By Janet Patton
jpatton1@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT — Opponents of expanded gambling prayed on Tuesday for the “timely death” of Gov. Steve Beshear’s casino gambling amendment, which will get its first legislative hearing on Wednesday.
Led by Rev. Hershael York of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, more than 100 people gathered in the Capital Rotunda to sing and pray for the legislation’s defeat.
The bill, introduced Feb. 14 by Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, is scheduled to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday.
Thayer said Tuesday that he would introduce a new version of the bill for a vote. He declined to discuss the changes.
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, who shook hands with the crowd in the rotunda, said he has heard no details of the changes.
“I guess they don’t want the public to see it before the committee meeting,” Williams said later.
The original bill would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to allow casinos at up to five racetracks and two other locations at least 60 miles from tracks.
While the bill has the support of many in the horse industry, the crowd on Tuesday said that thousands in Kentucky churches oppose it. Late last week, York rallied religious troops from the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Kentucky Council of Churches and the Kentucky Catholic Conference to lobby the General Assembly against the bill.
“We fear a great scourge may be unleashed in the commonwealth,” York told the crowd, whom he urged to call lawmakers.
“We beg and plead that this plague may not be unleashed in our state,” York said. “We want the best of our people, not a cut of their losses.”
Kentucky Baptist Convention president Rev. Adam Greenway of Louisville said church members would remember at the ballot boxes how lawmakers voted on Beshear’s bill.
“We are speaking in one voice to say no to expanded gambling,” Greenway said.
Rev. Paul Chitwood, KBC executive director, said the bill “mocks the poor” and urged lawmakers to vote their hearts.
“How many children are we willing to lay upon the altar of casino gambling?” Chitwood asked.
Beshear and Agriculture Commissioner Jamie Comer, a Republican, have said they will speak in support of the bill.
Comer’s office said Tuesday afternoon that he was still planning to testify “if it is in support of the horse industry, which is an important commodity in Kentucky agriculture,” said Holly VonLuehrte, his general counsel. “At this point, we plan to be there.”
The horse industry also was whipping up support: The Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association urged horsemen to contact Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, before the noon meeting in support of the bill.
“I think there are people on both sides of the expanded gambling issue,” said Patrick Neely, spokesman for the Kentucky Equine Education Project, which supports expanded gambling at racetracks. “We certainly respect that there are opponents but the people here today represent a very small minority who don’t want to let Kentuckians decide this issue.”
Filed Under: Damon Thayer • David Williams • KY General Assembly • State Government
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
I think it incumbent for Mr. Neely to confess that the issue of majorities and minorities in wanting to let the people decide is not the correct angle to view this debate. The debate has nothing to do with what percentage of what people want to vote on the measure. The debate is on whether the legislature first views gambling as sound public policy, from which it is then submitted to the voters for their agreement or disagreement.
Mr. Neely, please don’t buy into the myth that Kentucky is a referendum state. You know better. Your statements are deceptive, as has been the case with the Governor and the Kentucky Alliance for Jobs.
Praying for the death is such a Christian value… Shouldn’t the church be out helping those less fortunate and providing charity than trying
to push their nose into politics? Don’t like gambling? Fine, then don’t gamble.
Mr. Benson, that’s all nice and find if they talk against something you want. But if churches like the leftist United Methodist Church supports something like mandated health insurance, then I suppose you would think it is okay for churches to speak out only to support the things you want.
I am thankful for these Baptist churches that actually care about KY and the poor unlike the politicians in both parties who only care about their campaign contributors. Expanded gaming hurts the very poor you claim to care about. That is why these churches are rightfully speaking out — to help the poor — instead of keeping silent. Their silence would “condone” gambling, something I suppose you would love for them to do.