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Sharing concerns expressed by some other major denominations regarding the prospective roll over jackpot on this weekends National Lottery, the Board of Social Witness of the Presbyterian Church has described big financial prizes as potentially lethal.
While respecting that individuals will have differing consciences regarding the lottery, the Church is concerned for everyone, both winners and losers. Winners of big amounts in other forms of gambling have been proven to suffer more misery than happiness while for the losers there is evidence of the addictive nature of lottery fever.
In recent months the Presbyterian Church has expressed deep unease concerning the amounts of money being spent on the National Lottery and especially scratch cards, often by those who can least afford it.
The General Assembly has been consistent in its opposition to gambling including lotteries and has discouraged personal participation in the National Lottery, directing all agencies, congregations and projects of the Church not to accept any funding coming directly from it. The Church has urged the Government to continue making money available to charities which has not been raised through the National Lottery and encouraged continuing support of worthwhile charities by the time-honoured method of direct giving.
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