Roman Catholic bishops in Illinois have told state lawmakers they shouldn't turn to gambling as a revenue fix for the state's troubled budget. The Catholic Conference of Illinois on Tuesday said having a fair tax system is important and "it is not healthy to rely upon gambling as an alternative." Lawmakers have proposed a Chicago-owned casino and expanded gambling elsewhere in Illinois in an effort to generate revenue. The conference represents the state's six Catholic dioceses in Belleville, Chicago, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield. The bishops say gambling isn't inherently immoral. But they say the state is becoming enslaved by its "passion for gambling." They also called for transparent financial records from gambling enterprises doing business with Illinois as well as an end to gambling advertising that targets the poor.
Catholic bishops in Illinois warn lawmakers about gambling
