A decision on whether Catholic schools should get funding from the proceeds
of gambling is hanging in limbo. Catholic school board spokesman Lori Nagy
said yesterday that debate on the issue was halted when Edmonton Archbishop
Tom Collins was reassigned to another diocese. "We did have a discussion
with (Archbishop Collins) initially about it," Nagy said. "Right after that,
he was transferred so we are not pursuing it until we have a new archbishop
and have an initial meeting with him at which time we'll be discussing a
number of things." Currently, there is no word on when, or by whom, Collins
will be replaced. In the meantime, the board is continuing its fundraising
business as usual. "The majority of our schools are still using fundraising
through casinos as a way to raise money," Nagy said.
But one Alberta bishop is giving Catholic organizations in his diocese up to
three years to stop going after gambling revenues.