(Picture credit Nebraska Catholic Conference)
Nebraska’s Catholic bishops have become the latest voices in growing opposition to initiatives 440 and 441, which seek to legalize mobile app-based sports gambling in the state. The bishops issued a statement Tuesday afternoon through the Nebraska Catholic Conference.
“These measures would expand predatory online sports gambling in our state,” said Archbishop Michael G. McGovern of Omaha, Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, and Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt of Grand Island. “We urge Nebraskans, especially Catholics, to vote ‘Against’ Initiatives 440 and 441.”
The bishops cited reasons similar to those of other groups within the growing opposition to the measures, including taking issue with gambling proponents advertising the measures as tax relief.
“False promises of small property tax relief do not outweigh the serious social problems these initiatives would cause Nebraskans,” they said. “Online sports gambling often targets people who are vulnerable to addiction, especially young men and teenagers. This can lead to family problems, debt, bankruptcy, homelessness, and mental health issues.”
They also echoed the recent letter from Osborne and other notable names in Husker athletics, which argued that exposing Husker sports to a Nebraska gambling market would negatively affect competition:
“Online sports gambling isn’t a harmless wager among friends. It turns every part of a game – play call, free throw, serve, or a pitch – into a bet where the house always wins, which harms sports and student-athletes.”
Along with the statement, the Nebraska Catholic Conference has also devoted a webpage to opposing the measure, asking parishioners to pray for the measures’ defeat and circulate a NCC-branded one pager urging people to vote no.
With the move, the Nebraska Catholic Conference and bishops become the latest faith-based group to publicly oppose the matter, joining the Open Door Mission and the Nebraska Family Alliance.
The Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island diocese together list a total estimate of over 360,000 Catholics in Nebraska. The input of such a large voting base could very well threaten the chances of initiatives passing, which one public betting market favors at over 2-1.
The Plains Sentinel has reached out to Tax Relief Nebraska, which supports the gambling initiatives, for comment.
— Lewis Thune is a College Fix writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.