PARIS — Pastors from churches across the Oxford Hills region met Monday morning to express opposition to a proposed casino.
Reverend Dallas E. Henry of Hosanna New Testament Church in Oxford speaks in opposition to a proposed Oxford Hills casino initiative. Behind Henry, from left, are Pastor Aaron McNally of Pleasant Valley Bible Church in Bethel, Pastor Frank Jewett of Oxford Advent Christian Church, evangelist Bob Chisholm and Pastor John Callina of Stow Baptist Church.
About a dozen local ministers, pastors and evangelists stood behind the Rev. Dallas Henry of Hosanna New Testament Church as he delivered a prepared speech. About 20 members of local churches and the Oxford Hills No on 1 campaign gathered in Moore Park at the Veterans Memorial for the event.
Henry spoke about Aaron Walsh, a former Army officer who became addicted to gambling in Korea. Walsh killed himself in Baxter State Park in 2006 after he began gambling again after Hollywood Slots opened in Bangor.
Walsh is the namesake of the Warrant Officer Aaron Walsh Stop DOD-Sponsored Gambling Act, a bill introduced in 2007 to ban slot machines on military bases.
The bill requires a small percentage of casino revenues go to the Gambling Control Board, which includes funding for gambling addiction counseling services.
The press conference was sponsored by the Pastors Prayer Fellowship of the Oxford Hills, which includes churches the Oxford Advent Christian Church, Faith Chapel/Assembly of God in Oxford, Stow Baptist Church, Faith Community Church in Lovell, Hosanna New Testament Church in Oxford, South Paris Baptist Church, Norway Church of the Nazarene, Spurrs Corner Alliance Church in Otisfield and Twin Bridges Pentecostal in Harrison.
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You notice there was not a
You notice there was not a Catholic church in there? Wonder why?I believe in God, I know there is a God. What does God, and believeing have to do with gambling? These ministers should be more ocncerned about the members of thir parish who abuse their spouses and children. They should be more concerned about their members who won't have enough food or heat or warm clothes for this winter.
Gambling is goning to happen no matter what. Bus loads of Maine people, carring MAINE money, head out on busses almost daily. Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun were probabaly 1/2 built with Maine money.
Soldiers are commiting suicide more and more because of the WAR...I am very sorry for the loss of Mr Walsh, but he probably started to gamble to FORGET about the war. As someone else posted here, there are many many addictions...food, drugs, sex, cigarettes, and yes, gambling. There are people who are 'addicted' to scratch tickets. So what do we do? Close all stores that sell food, sctrach tickets, cigarettes/ Do we put all men and women in seperate parts of the world?
Get REAL minsters.....the people in your churches are already gambling, eating, having sex, smoking, doing drugs, and gambling. Now they won't have to go out of state to do it..and will be in your pews singing the praises to God on Sunday...AMEN
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AMEN
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If a religious organization wishes to endorse a political agenda it is no longer able to consider itself separated from the state and should pay taxes like the rest of us!
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that backs up your idea of "church and state".
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They are really going to test their connection with the all almighty as praying will be about the only option left for jobs.
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My main question for all those that express opposition to the casino concept and what else would you suggest. We've tried it your w;ay and it has only gotten worse. Instead of "Just say NO" why not "NO but what about ??" as an alternative to all the unemployment and personal hardship that area families and businesses must endure.
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shouldn't they lose thier tax exempt status?
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Oh please. When does this become a matter of personal responsibility? What about the hundreds of people who would benefit with jobs, and the thousands who would benefit from taxes that the casino would be paying. Stop sending this revenue to CT. We need this in Maine. Those who oppose it because of possible addiction, are they also opposed to bars because of alcohol addiction?
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My husband and I have traveled to Foxwoods several times on a Sunday Morning. The churches are literally packed. I am not kidding, parking lots are full and both sides of the road have cars parked. We have joked that people must feel guilty. Perhaps it would be a boom for the churches too. Maybe these clergy should visit them before making their decision.
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Did the pastors offer another business or busnesses in place of the casino to offer employment to the many people who are unemployed in the area? I guess they have chosen to over look the fact that unemployment is a leading cause of not only suicide, but child and spousal abuse and contributes to drug and alcohol abuse leading to addiction which are all leading causes of suicide.
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and whould these church people who OPPOSE the casinos and gambeling be the same ones that play bingo ? another form of gambeling, or buy scratch tickets ?
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no doubt all the employed people of oxford came out.
pastors worried about the sunday tideings.
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