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Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley has made a wager with the leader of the Catholic church in St. Louis that the Red Sox will beat the Cardinals in the World Series, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Fenway Park in Boston. (Archdiocese of Boston)

BOSTON — If gambling is a sin, Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, must not have gotten a Vatican memo telling him not to bet on the Red Sox winning the World Series.

O'Malley is wagering that the Sox will beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the championship series, which begins tonight at Fenway Park.

St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson has taken that bet, offering to donate $100 to Boston Catholic Charities if the Sox defeat the cardinals. Similarly, O'Malley has agreed to pay out $100 to the St. Louis archdiocese's charity fund if the Sox happen to stumble and fall – an impossibility, according to diehard Sox fans, who point to Boston's sweep of the Cards in the 2004 series.

The fact that the wager between the dueling archbishops is not a gentleman's bet – a bet in which no money is wagered – doesn't necessarily make it sinful in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church, which doesn't explicitly condemn gambling.

While the Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, has expressed concerns about the "social problems" and lure of "easy money" associated with urban casinos, one of which hopes to set up shop in the City of Homes, mother church generally holds that games of chance or wagers are not in themselves contrary to Catholic teaching.

However, such behavior does become "morally unacceptable when (it deprives) someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others," according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The good news about the wager between the archbishops of Boston and St. Louis is that Catholic Charities will benefit no matter which team wins. The nonprofit provides a spectrum of social service care to thousands of people.

Although St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has declined to wager on the series with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, the governors of the two states hosting this year's World Series have struck a sweet deal.

If the Sox should lose, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will donate New England Clam Chowder from Boston's Legal Sea Foods, a variety of beverages from Worcester's Polar Beverages, and a selection of baked goods from Dancing Deer Bakery Co. in Boston.

If the Cards tank, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will donate such state staples as a four-pack of Cardinal Cream Soda from Fitz's Bottling Co., a box of chocolates from Bissinger'AAs Chocolates, and an assortment of Italian baked goods from Missouri Baking Co.

Material from the Associated Press, Boston Magazine, the Roman Catholic Church and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was used in this report.