Calgary Bishop Fred Henry finally spoke out on his disapproval of bingos and casinos as fundraisers, accusing Alberta of underfunding education and forcing schools to become hooked on gambling revenues.

At a press conference Monday, Henry repeated his call for Catholic schools to come up with new ways of finding $2 million a year, then turned his attention to the provincial government.

The $2 million raised through casinos and bingos is directed to programs such as music, drama, athletics and field trips. It's also used to build play structures and help low-income students pay school fees.

"And the premier and his do-nothing minister of education should not be allowed to continue to say, 'Oh, look at all the money we're putting into education' when in actual fact they're not keeping up with some of the basic essentials," said Henry.

Concerns outlined in December

Last December, Henry outlined his moral concerns about schools using gambling revenues.

In May, Calgary Catholic School District trustees voted to allow schools to continue to raise money through bingos and casinos, but said they must donate some of the revenue to gambling addiction treatment, and education for students about the risks of gambling.

Last week, Henry warned in a pastoral letter that if the fundraisers don't stop, he will not preside over the board's annual opening meeting in the fall and will blacklist schools that use gambling revenues.

On Monday, the bishop said churches and other Catholic organizations in his diocese have already cut their ties to gambling activities and he expects schools should be able to do the same.

"Things are going to change, or else," he said.

To help replace the $2 million in lost revenue, he made various suggestions, including establishing a Catholic foundation to raise money across southern Alberta.

The Alberta government has so far insisted there is no funding problem, with the premier and the education minister arguing the province is providing more money than ever to the province's school boards.

Meanwhile, the Alberta School Board Association argues that nearly half of Alberta's school boards are reporting annual deficits.