Message from a Hostel – Is Gambling a Sin?

How did ye all get on at the court hearing today Alastair?  Well Nora you won’t believe what happened. The three of us were sitting waiting for our case to be called, we were all very concerned about the possible outcome. I watched Minister Smyth and Father Higgins praying to the heavens.  Alastair is Father Higgins the man that looks like Santa Claus?  That’s the very man Nora.  So listen I sat there twiddling my thumbs while the other two were chatting away.

Next thing all we heard was the Court Clerk calling Minister Smyth to take the stand.  The Judge asked the Prosecution Lawyer to read the charges against the three of us.  Poor old Minister Smyth was on the stand at this stage.  

Minister Smyth you are accused under the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970 of playing cards for financial gain in a public place on the 8.30am train from Vancouver to Kelowna, the Lawyer declared.  The Judge then asked, Minister Smyth how do you plead.  Right there and then without batting an eye lid Minister Smyth said not guilty your honour.

Well the Judge looked at him and he then looked back at the Prosecution Lawyer and he did this several times between the both of them.  The Judge then spoke, this is a man of the cloth and he must be telling the truth,you are dismissed Minister Smyth.

The Court Clerk then called Father Higgins.  The same process was repeated and when the Judge asked Father Higgins how do you plead, Father Higgins replied, not guilty your honour.  Again the Judge referred to him as a man of the cloth and acquitted him.

Now Nora it was my turn and after hearing the other two, what was I going to say? The Prosecution Lawyer read the charges, he said Alastair Shackleton Jones you are accused under the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970 of playing cards for financial gain in a public place on the 8.30am train from Vancouver to Kelowna.  Then the Judge asked me how do you plead? so I replied with whom your honour?