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by Melissa Lauber
UMConnection Staff

The on-going battle over the legalization of slot machines in Maryland is heating up as religious and political leaders call upon the faith community to actively, and in great number, voice their opposition.

In a letter to the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, Bishop John R. Schol called upon United Methodists to oppose Senate Bill 205 and House Bill 255.

?Slots have been a measure that targets the poor and elderly who, studies have shown, are the most frequent users of slot machines. Slots ? and gambling in general ? hurt lives, government, communities and neighborhoods,? the bishop wrote. In addition, 21 Maryland lawmakers are turning to leaders of the religious community in Maryland, asking for help in opposing slot machine gambling in the state.

?While each of us has our own reasons for opposing slots, we appeal to you, the leaders of the religious community, because this is very much a moral and ethical issue,? the letter stated. ?Please join us in our efforts to keep slots out of Maryland.?

The letter was signed by Senators Mac Middleton and Paul Pinsky, and Delegates Peter Franchot, Tawanna Gaines, William Bronrott, Marilyn Goldwater, Charles Barkley, Richard Madaleno, Curt Anderson, Marvin Holmes, Pauline Menes, Susan Lee, Justin Ross, James Hubbard, Adrienne Mandel, Karen Montgomery, Michael Vaughn, Mary-Delaney James, Ana Sol Gutierrez, Herman Taylor and Joanne Benson.

The United Methodist Church, in its Social Principles, strongly opposes legalized gambling as ?a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic and spiritual life, and destructive of good government.? Supporters of legalizing slots, like Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr., himself a United Methodist, point out that the resulting revenues could bring an additional $100 million a year to school construction funding in Maryland.

Bishop Schol disagrees, warning, ?While the bills propose using slots for worthy purposes, such as education, this is only a ploy to gather votes.?

The bishop and legislative leaders are also joined by groups like NOcasiNO, co-chaired by Barbara Knickelbein, a United Methodist.

?There must be a better way to fund educational needs ? legislators need to be told to find that better way,? said Knickelbein. ?Contact your local county council/commission members and county executives and tell them you don?t want slots ?in your backyard? or anyone else?s back yard in the state. If we allow them to get a foot in the door anywhere it will be like a cancer that spreads and in 10 years from now we will have lots worse problems to deal with than we have today.?

United Methodists are being encouraged to write letters and e-mails to state law makers and newspapers to voice their views.

Those who wish to contact the governor can write him in care of the State House, 100 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401 or e-mail him at .md.us.

To contact a member of the General Assembly or to read the slot bill, see mlis.state.md.us/.

Delegates Peter Franchot (410-841-3460) and Curt Anderson (410-841-3291), who both signed the letter to the faith leaders, also encourage people to contact them if any additional information is needed.

Knickelbein?s group, NOcasiNo, offers advice on advocating against slots at www.nocasinomaryland.org, as does StopSlots at www.stopslotsmd.com.

With slot machines, Knickelbein concluded, the only way for Maryland to win is for Marylanders to lose.