Lottery....a sin?

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What is the stand of Catholic church on lotteries? Is it considered a sin?

I play the California lottery once in a while and I take it a form of entertainment. My husband, a very devout Catholic (by the way I am also a Catholic), is very much against it. He said that we must always put our future in the hands of God and not on the false hope of winning the lottery. He would always tell me that it's better for me to donate the $1 to the church than bet on the lottery. But I would always tell him that if I'll win I can give more to the church... and to the poor... and to the needy. But still he is not convinced and claims that playing the lottery is a sin. Well, the Bible emphasizes on hard work but I haven't read a passage that prohibits playing in a lottery. What do you think?

-- Jonabel Perez (jonabel@redshift.com), May 29, 1998

Answers

I believe that sin is a willing, premeditated act of refusing to do God's will in your life. Depending on your level of conscience of sin in your life may likely affect your decision if spending $1 for a lottery is "Sin". My feeling is that a person who thinks spending $1 on a Lottery is sin must have done some DEEP soul searching. When you spend the $1 do you consciencely feel like you are acting against God and failing to do his will in your life? I believe there are so many more ways that sin can enter our life that worrying about spending such an insignificant amount of money is almost a Sin. How is spending the $1 for lottery any different than spending the money at a church raffle. The money for the lottery supports the community as well. My suggestion is to spend the dollar, have fun and spend the time you "argue" about the dollar praising God! Perhaps to Mother Teresa spending the $1 would be a sin. Also consider that watching TV, going to an "R" rated movie, or missing daily prayer may also be considered a sin for Mother Teresa. That's where I think your husband must have a deep sense of spirituality, if this is the case it might be helpful to join your husband and just forget the silly lottery, odds are you will never ever win anyway. Maybe there's a happy balance that can be reached where you both WIN. Maybe he would feel better if you (as a couple) made time for more prayer (go to daily mass) and then he would feel more comfortable about spending the buck. I have found that you must always seek to compromise in marriage. Never work against one another and always be united, that why I say it's almost a sin to have disunity in a marriage over a buck.

-- Tony Bejarno (bejarno@juno.com), June 16, 1998.

Il n'y a pas de loterie! Si je tu ou nous sommes du pour avoir un signe, nous l'aurons. J'ai eu le mien la premihre annie de la "Great Jubilee" 1997. Dominic-Andri Lavoie est mon nom.

-- Dominic-Andri Lavoie (Jonabel@redshift. com), September 30, 1998.

Dear Jonabel

I don'nt know the entire position of the church, but it does say you can gamble or (play the lottery) as long as you don't go broke for lack of a better word or (loose basic neccesitys for life such as ,shelter, food etc.

In my opinion if you do not become rich by using the money for charity I think its ok to buy a ticket.

-- E.H.Weiss (weisse@urgentmail.com), March 01, 1999.


I think your husband must live a rigid life! Spending $1 on a lottery is not a sin, not a mortal one, anyway. It doesn't fit the qualifications of a sin (1)it must be a serious matter (2) you must understand that it is a serious matter (3) you must consiously do it anyway. Good luck!

-- Ellen K. Hornby (dkh@canada.com), July 18, 1999.

MY oh My Oh My gambling yet? Tsk Tsk. Anyone know how the Apostle to replace Judas Iscariot was done?

-- jean bouchardRC, (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), July 19, 1999.


Uhhh, they drew lots, not lottery :-)

Gambling is a sin for several reasons. First, it is poor stewardship of God's money. Second, it feeds a corrupt and often criminal system. Is a lottery gambling? It certainly can be. Just ask the woman whose husband pours $50 per week down that drain if it's a sin when the kids need new shoes or the woman on welfare who spends your tax dollars chasing the impossible dream. The third reason it is a sin is that too often, the people who most sustain the lottery are those least able to afford it and they are looking to big financial gain for their security rather than looking to the Lord their provider (Jehovah-Jirah).

Now, that said, is it a sin for someone to buy a $1 ticket every other week or whatever? That's between the Holy Spirit and you. It's certainly not defined as a sin in the Bible, but we also have to obey the Spirit in all matters relating to us as individuals. What is sin for one may not be sin for another. If you have a tendency to gravitate toward gambling in a sinful extreme, then the Holy Spirit, knowing you better than yourself, may very well restrain you from participating even in the smallest form of it. Just as an alcoholic cannot partake of any level of alcohol while someone else can drink a glass of wine at the evening meal and have no problem. In the end, if your conscience is bothering you about participating, then you must obey for the Lord will convict you of sin through your conscience.

-- David Bowerman (dbowerman@blazenet.net), July 19, 1999.


Re: Gambling there is an old read by Dostoesky - The Gambler - which gives insight to the reason why. He wrote this book while poverty stricken.+Peace+

-- jean bouchardRC (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), July 19, 1999.

In statistics class at the university we calculated that the "value" of a $2.00 Missouri lottery ticket was exactly $0.23. What a great way to save for the future!!! ;-D.

A Catholic position on gambling in general is that it is not intrinsically wrong. One can legitimately choose to spend some money on entertainment -- movies, arcade games, sports events, or gambling. In that sense it's the same as other forms of entertainment. But the Church recognizes that this form of entertainment (like some of the others, sports for example) can become highly addictive and so endanger our spiritual health.

I find it hard to see how playing the lottery even rises to the level of entertainment so I think prudence, thrift, and other Christian virtues would pretty much rule it out. That's a personal opinion.

-- David Palm (djpalm64@yahoo.com), July 20, 1999.


I am so relieved that I do not gamble drink or inviolve myself and loved ones in this sort of bad unfaithful behavior. Never would I rick my life or those of loved ones on these things. Anyone wanna bet on that?+Peace+

-- jean bouchardRC, (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), July 21, 1999.

Lottery is a deadly sin.

-- Tony (awalker@teknett.com), May 06, 2002.


Lotteries are a tax on the stupid at best, and sinful at worst if you are spending money on them to the point of neglecting your family's needs (although I think the new trend to make it a "disease" is a load of hooey).

Church raffles/bingo are lotteries/gambling as well, but I don't see too many opting out of those.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 06, 2002.


Is gambling a sin? Is drinking alcohol a sin? Is dancing sinful?

Yes, but only when they are indulged to excess. Gambling can be fun and even bring profit; and it can rule your life. It can become a vice. If it's a ''chance'' thing for a good catholic, as if you bought raffle tickets, why is that sinful?

If you drink like a fish and fall asleep drunk in other people's homes; that's a sin. No excuse for that abuse of something good. Wine was given to the human race from God's own bounty; to make the heart merry. We used to say, when I was younger, ''Feeling good.'' Not drunk, but a little buzzed. Not a sin for some. But when an alcoholic gets his buzz, it places him under the power of alcohol.

A priest and I discussed it last week. Gambling. I said I thought it could be OK as a pastime with moderation. Even profitable sometimes, if a skill is involved. My reference was to handicapping horses; something I have experience in for many years.

I compared this with the many other ways of raising income when a resource is put to work. If a farmer buys seed, or stock, and labors in the business of farming, God gives the increase. Or, a stock market investor, buying a promising stock; God must reward him for his effort for him to profit. He is using a resource that God gave him, his skill in the market, and his willingness to risk losses. When rain fails to come for a farmer, he has nothing to show for his work. It's God who gives all His children a return for their work, and a return for any risk they undertake.

I think a lot of good catholics can risk a few dollars on ocassion buying a lottery ticket or two. I realise the chances of winning are truly ridiculous. But God may even give a good person some relief from poverty if the person acts with FAITH IN GOD. Nothing good can ever come to us except from His hand. He gives us the food we eat, and the roof we live under. No one deserves these gifts particularly because of his own honest labor. That's what we have to understand. It's coming to us from Him. It can come from a Lotto ticket (scary!) or a raffle ticket or some stock which goes up in the market. But it's God's. We never owned it, He did. He chooses to give it to some, and not to others.

He passed over ALL of Jesse's sons, and wouldn't anoint them King of Israel. He told the prophet to call for the last, youngest son of Jesse, David.

They brought him in from the fields where he tended sheep for his father. He was made King by God Himself!

If a n old woman wishes to pay a dollar or two for a chance at many millions, God may hear her prayers. Why should he hate her, for wasting that money? It's HIS MONEY! He gave it to her, not her husband. He can give her more, if it pleases Him. She is showing HOPE and FAITH in God; not in her money. I say she's not sinning one bit. I could be wrong; but I'm not the final judge. Her own conscience knows if she's indulging in a vice or not. Hope and Faith are great virtues, when placed in the right place. I wonder if it's God's goodness she hopes in/ The money is only a prize. Her faith is the real riches.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), May 06, 2002.


I see nothing wrong in winning the lottery , but the problem is , if a couple wins the lottery , some couples get a fight , because they can handle the money , also jalousy !! __ Some people spend this money very wild , they going get nuts !! __ If you win the lottery , just don't tell your neighbors or anyone else you're the winner !! __ In fact , be a bit selfish !! __ If everybody knows , suddenly you're their best friend , and when you're money is completely spend/gone , they push you "six feet under" !!

You don't like the lottery , just don't play this deadly serious game !! But be warned , you can get addicted to this game , in that case is it VERY DANGEROUS !!!!

PS: I don't playing that often on the lottery , only when they "throw away" BIG $$$$$$$$ !!

Greets from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG. (my__way_@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.


Nobody sees any wrong in ''winning'' the lotery, Lug. It's the losing that's bad. I'm sure Jonabel Perez' husband would approve very much of her ''winning''. Winning a SIN? I guess I ought to give back all the money. Lol!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), May 07, 2002.

Jonabel, I'm sure if you won and put half in the collection plate on Sunday, your sin of gambling would be erased! :)

A priest in my parish is always buying scratch-offs (and not a dollar's worth!)

It would be a sin if you gambled your money away and did not feed your family, or pay your bills....'supposedly' the lottery money goes to the state for education????

Enjoy yourself and hope you win! :) MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), May 07, 2002.



I don't believe i would let a lottery ticket come between my companion and I. Its not worth all the money in the world if your not happy.

-- jaef cline (jaef@yahoo.com), December 29, 2002.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with gambling. Like eating, drinking, sex, entertainment, exercise, work, the internet, or just about anything else you can name which brings us pleasure, gambling can be sinful when it is carried to extremes. But spending some money on lottery tickets is no worse than spending it on any other kind of amusement which you find personally enjoyable, provided it is something you do because you like to do it, not because you have to do it. The problem is, a compulsive gambler finds it just as hard to look at his situation honestly and objectively as a compulsive drinker or eater does. So care is advisable. Still, in the final analysis, gambling is one of those things that is not sinful in and of itself, but can become a moral issue if it is allowed to become abusive, obsessive, or excessive.

Peace! Paul

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), December 30, 2002.


Gambling, like using certain drugs, is also sinful where it is illegal.

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 30, 2002.

Lottery:

Sin? not really. Stupid? You betcha.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 28, 2003.


Maybe stupid , but if you don't try , you'll never lose , but you'll also never get the chance to win !!

But I'll never go to a casino , or whatever !! __ But at the lottery , I have spent this year about 30€ , and I won 400€-30€= 370€ !! __ yep , mmmm , not the big jackpot , but I'm satisfy !!

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), November 29, 2003.


CCC # 2413

2413 Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant.

-- Skoobouy (skoobouy@hotmail.com), November 29, 2003.


OFF TOPIC:

Skoobouy , you've got mail !!

BACK TOPIC:

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), November 29, 2003.


I think the answer to this and many ambiguous questions (drinking, spending, etc) lies in terms of stewardship. The question we need to constantly ask ourselves is whether we are being good stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us. If we are good stewards of the money that God has entrusted to us, then I would say that there is nothing inherently wrong with buying a lottery ticket. Where the problem develops is the situation where people look at lottery tickets as their hope for financial salvation so to speak. I think the more important question we should ask is what would we do with the money if we won. Are we playing the lottery to glorify ourselves with more goods and services, or to help us live a more God centered life.

IMHO, it seems like a lot of Christians live their financial lives without thinking about it in terms of stewardship. Even people who are tithers often look at the remaining 90% as theirs to do what they want with.

-- James (stinkcat_14@hotmail.com), November 29, 2003.


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