From gambling to grovelling

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

NSW to trial club chaplains for gamblers

In an Australian first, problem gamblers could soon get help from chaplains based in New South Wales pubs and clubs.

The 12-month trial will see a uniformed Salvation Army chaplain stationed in club gaming rooms at the Mingara Club on the state's central coast.

The so-called club chaplain will offer support to problem gamblers and be available to make home visits.

The Salvation Army is funding the trial and will work in conjunction with Clubs NSW.

"If this 12-month trial is successful Clubs NSW will certainly be rolling it out through clubs across the state," Clubs NSW chief Anthony Bell said.

"We thought we would go looking for targeted measures that actually worked, and the Salvos are like-minded on this one."

But independent anti-pokies Senator Nick Xenophon has slammed the move, saying the industry is using a respected charity to silence the opposing voice.

Respected charity eh? That ain't gonna silence me. What a fucking disgrace.

Helping those who have a gambling problem? Probably not what the chaplains will really be there for.

Yeah, so now they go from gambling with poker machines to gambling with the church hoping they'll get some eternal life from a zombie.

[GenericBox]

Just like the chaplaincy in school issue - I don't understand what, why or how they think that being a chaplain somehow makes them qualified for anything other than their devotion to their sky daddy.

What qualifications does a chaplain specifically have that gives them the experience to deal and educate problem gamblers. If anything, I would wager that a chaplain probably has less experience compared to the ordinary public when it comes to gambling.

[Logic please]

Hmmm... interesting that Clubs NSW are only now gettting around to this, given that Crown Casino in Melb is already doing something similar:

Originally Posted by Chaplains Without Borders (yep, you read that right)

Crown's Chaplaincy Support Service
In recognition that from time to time some people need a form of spiritual support, Chaplains Without Borders now provides a Chaplaincy Support Service at Crown for the convenience of staff and customers.
The Chaplaincy seeks to engage in fresh and distinctive ways of increasing the health and wellbeing of all people, using new models for participation in spiritual life that work in conjunction with established Crown support service initiatives.
The service is free
Appointments can be made by calling 1800 456 228.
The Chaplaincy Support Service at Crown respects all religious beliefs and traditions in the spirit of tolerance. While its foundation is Christian, people of Jewish, Muslim and other faiths have strong links to the chaplaincy and participate in its activities.
The Chaplaincy Support Service helps people seeking guidance and peace in ways relevant to the diverse range of individuals’ problems and life situations.
The Chaplaincy Support Service offers:
• prayer
• meditation
• discussion of problems
• pastoral services
• other pastoral assistance
• referral to other support services.
Information can also be provided in relation to aspects of personal relationships. All inter-faith enquiries welcome.
The Chaplaincy Support Service at Crown has been established as part of Crown’s overall package of services which include the Crown Employee Assistance Program and the Responsible Gaming Support Centre.
The Chaplains Without Borders Casino Program will be rolled out to Casinos throughout Australia over the next twelve months. If you would like to start a Chaplaincy Support Service at your Casino, please contact Fr James.

We previously discussed some recent mediaz coverage on this issue HERE.

I guess the Salvos don't see any inconsistency between their professed raison d'etre in helping the poor and underprivileged, and getting into bed with organisations arguably responsible for contributing to increasing the numbers of poor and underprivileged...

Strange, though... there seems to be some disagreement as to who will fund the trial. The ABC is reporting that the Salvos are funding it, contrary to most others like ninemsn and The Australian, who are reporting that the deal, with 3 welfare agencies, will cost Clubs NSW $1mil in payments to those agencies.

[gruber]

Respected charity eh?

you have to understand, to be a respectable charity you need one of the heads of the group to go on radio and say you support killing homosexuals and its something the organisation has in its guidelines

[DanDare]

This is getting to be a bit like Sharia police. So now, the bulk of people who like gambling and don't have problem with it, get to have homophobic, dogmatic, authoritarians who they probably don't agree with glowering over their shoulders. Its either give up on your fun or put up with the fucknuts.

Great.

Oh, and the salvos aren't sure its a good deal: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/...-clubs/4185700

[rayne]

Replacing one addiction (gambling) for another (Jeebus). Yep, totally helpful.