Sydney
10 March 2002
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Pope urged to ban his photo from club
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Pope urged to ban his photo from club
By Kathleen Carmody
An Independent Upper House MP has urged the Pope to issue a decree banning the use of his photograph in the foyer of the Campbelltown Catholic Club.
The general manager of the club has expressed some surprise, particularly as the MP’s father was a founding member of the club and the MP himself worked as a barman there when he was at university.
The MLC, Peter Breen, a Catholic, says in his letter he finds it unsettling that the Church would lend its name to a club that extracts more than $20 million each year “from a comparatively poor community” in money spent on drinking and gambling.
“A photograph of your good self is proudly displayed in the foyer of the Campbelltown Catholic Club, as if to lend your moral authority to the club’s activities,” the letter reads.
“I doubt that you would sanction drinking and gambling on such a scale, but there you are, large as life, directly above the club’s reception desk.
“Drinking and gambling for many unfortunate people is living death. For this reason alone I urge you to consider a papal decree to ban the display of your photograph in the foyer of the Campbelltown Catholic Club.”
The club manager, Steve Muter, said that he didn’t seriously expect a response from the Pope to Mr Breen’s letter.
“It’s a slight against all the good things that the club has done in this area that Peter is well aware of,” he said. “I’m sure the Pope’s photo looks very proudly on the achievements of the Catholic Club.”
The club had given more than $7 million to Catholic education, he said, and the community had benefited by support for hospitals and many community causes “well in excess of $1.5 million”.
The club recently decided to put a minimum of $1 million into the community each year.
In his letter Mr Breen warns that the club, which began a $50 million redevelopment last month, is on the brink of becoming an international casino – something Mr Muter strenuously denies.
“The emphasis is on being a social and recreational club for members and guests,” Mr Muter said.
Campbelltown Catholic Club has 328 poker machines.
Mr Muter said more would be installed in the new development at the request of members.
The club nets around $18.5 million a year from gambling.