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RELIGIOUS LEADER ASKS VOTE ON CASINO PLAN

The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, in their first public hearing on casino gambling in Chicago, was urged Wednesday to try to slow the decision-making process and make a public referendum part of that process.

”If we do nothing else today, let`s say we`re not going to let this be brokered in the state legislature this session,” United Methodist Rev. Thomas Grey told the planning session of religious leaders meeting in the Episcopal Diocesan Center, 65 E. Huron St.

The interfaith council is preparing to meet with Mayor Richard Daley on Monday to discuss his support for a plan to build a casino-entertainmen t complex in the city.

He urged them to seek a referendum for Chicago voters this fall on whether they favor the proposed $2 billion casino-entertainment complex.

Regardless of how such a vote goes, Grey said, ”I`ll be able to say at least we didn`t let the flock be fleeced without giving them a chance to bleat.”

Wednesday`s meeting was attended by 50 representatives of 15 denominations, and heads of various faith groups in the city-including Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of the Catholic Archdiocese, Bishop Frank Griswold of the Episcopal Diocese, Rabbi Mordecai Simon of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and Rev. Paul Rutgers of the Presbyterian Presbytery.

Joe Frederick, a senior vice president of Hilton Hotels, which is a partner in the casino proposal, was the sole representative of the gambling proponents.

”We shouldn`t be ashamed to revive an industry that is vital to this community`s competitiveness,” he said. Of Hilton`s 200-plus properties, the five that have gambling generate 66 percent of the chain`s profits, he said.

Although Daley has insisted the moral issue is over for gambling since Illinois already has horse racing, riverboat casinos and a state lottery, morality was much on the minds of speakers Wednesday.

Rev. Arthur DeKruyter, pastor of the nondenominational Christ Church of Oak Brook, said gambling is a sin.

”Gambling undermines the work ethic,” he said. ”It says you can get ahead without doing anything.” He contrasted that with Chicago`s self-proclaimed image as ”the city that works.”

Frederick, however, drew from that same source for his pro-casino argument: He cited studies showing the complex would bring 66,000 new jobs to the city.

Jane Ramsey, executive director of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, cited other reports showing that unemployment and homelessness worsened in Atlantic City, and teenage gambling increased in Las Vegas, the oft-cited source cities for measuring the impact of casinos.

Expressing concern that politicians have put this proposal on a ”hurried timetable,” and are ignoring other economic strategies as they focus on casinos, Ramsey said:

”Let`s not gamble away our future by making a hasty decision on a quick fix.”

Rutgers, president of the religious council, said he did not know which or how many of its members would be at Monday`s scheduled meeting with Daley at City Hall.