Orthodox Christians against gambling addiction

The head of the Saratov diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church called for limiting the spread of gambling in Russia, which he called a "social disease" and put on a par with alcoholism and drug addiction. In the appeal of Bishop Longin, which was sent to the Saratov Regional Duma and to the vice-speaker of the State Duma V.V. Volodin, it is said that "the so-called gambling business in modern Russia is not just legalized, it is super-profitable, and grows ugly like a cancerous tumor, parasitizing on human weakness."

“It would seem,” writes the head of the diocese, “it’s a personal matter for everyone: to play or not to play. But only a mature and independent person can make a choice. grocery stores, "gaming clubs" with the same machines on every street, in every block - visible accessibility, the promise of thrills and, most importantly, big and easy money, all this simply breaks fragile souls, the will to resist even where it exists .

If the economic postulate "demand creates supply" is correct, then such a massive supply indicates clinical deviations, a painful maniacal dependence on the game of a huge percentage of our fellow citizens. But something else is also possible: they are simply trying to "get us hooked on the needle of the game." And if this is so, then the spread of gambling as a social disease is still possible and must be stopped by limiting the spread of the gaming business by legislative and tax methods.

On February 9, 2006, the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church , citing the press service of the Kostroma diocese, reported that "the archbishop of Kostroma and Galich Alexander also announced his intention to appeal to the legislative authorities of the region with a demand to protect the inhabitants of the Kostroma land, especially children and adolescents, from addiction to the game. In addition, the clergy of the Kostroma and Galich diocese will hold a series of meetings in schools to discuss problems related to gambling. It is planned to publish and distribute special literature designed to help people give up this addiction. their loved ones."

Sources

• Bishop Longin made an open appeal to the deputies of the regional and federal legislative assemblies // Orthodoxy and Modernity. Information and analytical portal of the Saratov diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2005. October 28.
• The Kostroma diocese opposes the distribution of slot machines // Official site of the ROC MP. 2006. February 9. (With reference to the press service of the Kostroma diocese.)