Alcohol at church functions
- Thread starter vz71
- Start date
- Status
A
aspawloski4th
Guest
Not at all. Jesus’s first mericle was turning water into wine. It’s tradition to varius Catholic ethnic groups. Remember we are not Christian Reformed, we don’t believe a drink leads to drunkeness. If you are of European decent your ancestors drank wine with most meals at just about any age, because drinking water brought sickness.
O
Orogeny
Guest
C
Charlotte408
Guest
without even reading other posts from I’m sure farrrr more educated…lol…church…goers… ((sorry recent convert))
I’m gonna say HECK NO! just out of respect!! I mean, cm’on…
Even as, just a regular everyday sinner lmbo…I would never have alcohol at my kids birthday, for example…its just a respect thing, your not going there for you, your going there for a child (or church, or God depending on the function) and you need to put your issues aside to BE THERE for that. When your under the influence of alcohol, your physically present, but not ALL THERE.
4
4elise
Guest
We have church dinners and fundraisers where wine and beer are served - and I’ve never seen anyone drink too much — our bar tenders are always the KoC and I do think they keep an eye on that - those events are are ones with mostly adults in attendance.
The parish fiesta with all the games and rides also has a beer booth - run by our KoC - I know they raise a lot of money at this - since this is held in the hot of August.
I don’t drink (get bad headaches), but I do come from a family with a lot of alcoholism - and like everyone I am sure, I know some very tragic stories of the horrific damage drunk driving can cause —
All this being said - I’ve no trouble with alcohol being served at a church function - with good supervision to ensure no one drinks too much and gets behind the wheel -
One point on another thread was the issue of it being at family events, given that people can drink anywhere else - and I appreciate this point of view - not wanting to give sanction to those who drink too much as an example to teens, kids etc.
I would offer that it is also possible to reflect at such a function that it is possible to enjoy alcohol without overdoing - which perhaps can be a positive example for teens who may otherwise think that it can only be enjoyed ‘overdone’.
People who have personal history and stories about tragedy related to alcohol and drunk driving are naturally exceptionally sensitive to this topic and I hope we will be able to offer these individuals respect and understanding in such a discussion.
The parish fiesta with all the games and rides also has a beer booth - run by our KoC - I know they raise a lot of money at this - since this is held in the hot of August.
I don’t drink (get bad headaches), but I do come from a family with a lot of alcoholism - and like everyone I am sure, I know some very tragic stories of the horrific damage drunk driving can cause —
All this being said - I’ve no trouble with alcohol being served at a church function - with good supervision to ensure no one drinks too much and gets behind the wheel -
One point on another thread was the issue of it being at family events, given that people can drink anywhere else - and I appreciate this point of view - not wanting to give sanction to those who drink too much as an example to teens, kids etc.
I would offer that it is also possible to reflect at such a function that it is possible to enjoy alcohol without overdoing - which perhaps can be a positive example for teens who may otherwise think that it can only be enjoyed ‘overdone’.
People who have personal history and stories about tragedy related to alcohol and drunk driving are naturally exceptionally sensitive to this topic and I hope we will be able to offer these individuals respect and understanding in such a discussion.
C
Charlotte408
Guest
OK just read the other posts, and, as I already knew, ya’ll know church teachings and alcohol isnt a sin, or whatever…
I still say have some respect and keep your sobriety…mind you, if we were talking a ‘wine tasting’ where every one is having a ‘sip’ than no, that doesnt lead to drunkeness…
but if were talking a church carnival, and theres beer on tap…your just asking for some idiot off the street to cause some raucous…
idk my opinion…keep it clean!
I still say have some respect and keep your sobriety…mind you, if we were talking a ‘wine tasting’ where every one is having a ‘sip’ than no, that doesnt lead to drunkeness…
but if were talking a church carnival, and theres beer on tap…your just asking for some idiot off the street to cause some raucous…
idk my opinion…keep it clean!
P
puzzleannie
Guest
no as long as local law is followed (no serving to minors), and rules of the parish insurance policy are followed.
why? because their is no prohibition against the use of alcohol in Catholic morality, in the commandments or in the bible as long as moderation and temperance as virtues are observed. whether or not it is prudent to do so is another matter, and should be decided by the pastor according to local conditions, what is the function, who will attend and so forth.
K
kage_ar
Guest
Children learn moderation by watching parents behave in moderation.
Alcohol is nothing to be hidden from children.
Funny how puritinacal the USA can be.
Well, thus far this thread has turned out to be pretty much an echo of my own thoughts on the topic. That there is nothing at all with alcohol at church functions.
The morality of the alcohol would fall instead upon the over-indulgence by someone, which would be a sin whether or not the church function is going on.
I know there to be at least one individual that believes alcohol should be banned from church functions, and I was hoping to hear from them as to why or why not.
I couldn’t get answers previously as alcohol would have been way off topic.
However here…
I believe they were leaning towards the over-indulgent person being served the alcohol by the church being a sin.
So who exactly would the responsibility fall upon?
Is it right to serve alcohol to someone that has ‘had enough’?
If it is not, by what measure can we determine the limits?
Wouldn’t the culpability fall upon the person imbibing the beverages?
I imagine it would, but alcohol’s tendency to deaden our senses would also mean a diminished capacity to determine for oneself. So when should someone else step in?
The morality of the alcohol would fall instead upon the over-indulgence by someone, which would be a sin whether or not the church function is going on.
I know there to be at least one individual that believes alcohol should be banned from church functions, and I was hoping to hear from them as to why or why not.
I couldn’t get answers previously as alcohol would have been way off topic.
However here…
I believe they were leaning towards the over-indulgent person being served the alcohol by the church being a sin.
So who exactly would the responsibility fall upon?
Is it right to serve alcohol to someone that has ‘had enough’?
If it is not, by what measure can we determine the limits?
Wouldn’t the culpability fall upon the person imbibing the beverages?
I imagine it would, but alcohol’s tendency to deaden our senses would also mean a diminished capacity to determine for oneself. So when should someone else step in?
C
cthulhubryan
Guest
Here is my :twocents:
Growing up, I saw my parents drink. Dad had a glass of whiskey and soda (cc & 7) and Mom had a glass of wine with dinner some nights. Seeing them do this, I learned that alcohol was okay and not a thing to try to hide. (Actually, the same applies to gambling as they would go to Vegas occasionally but that’s another thread) I went through my ‘more than moderate’ drinking stage when I was 18 but when I turned 19 and it was legal that dropped off.
My point is that by seeing my parents and others drink socially, I did not grow up with any phobias or neuroses about drinking and this allowed me to drink as I wanted with no real issues. When I look back at many of my friends from back in the day it seems that those who were baptist or mormon had many more issues with drinking/alcoholism that friends who were catholic, methodist or Jehovah’s Witness.
Pushing drinking into the ‘verboten’ category makes it more of a temptation to start and more of a shame that makes it harder to ask for help for having touched the ‘demon liquor’
Again, just my opinion.
Bryan
C
crazzeto
Guest
Nope, Jesus was a party to this… There is nothing inherantly sinful about alchohol, God even tells the Israelites to sit back every now and again, buy some wine (or hard drink) and enjoy. The key is that temperance should be observed, you should enjoy the beverage, but not to the point of drunkeness. The idea that alchohol is inherantly sinful comes from the refermation.
J
JRKH
Guest
No
Because Alchohol is neither illegal or immoral. Also it can depend upon the cultural background of the parish. Germans are beer drinkers and so here in Cincinnnati with a large Ethnic German heritage, beer is a normal component of life both in and out of the parish. The same can be said for Wine and Italians etc.
Alchohol is fine - Drunkenness however is immoral. Get the difference?
Peace
James
0
06convert
Guest
Yeah, it seems a bit ironic that a bunch of people from church are standing around having a cold one, but there isn’t anything wrong with it.
We all have to be responsible when drinking and not over do it, but there is nothing wrong with an occassional.
And of course the church must follow all laws. Have a license and not server to minors, etc.
We all have to be responsible when drinking and not over do it, but there is nothing wrong with an occassional.
And of course the church must follow all laws. Have a license and not server to minors, etc.
H
Havard
Guest
I had a similar experience, so I strongly agree that healthy drinking habits of our parents helps us develop healthy drinking habits.
Of course there is always a bad apple.
When I was a young kid, there was going to be a youth camping trip.
The Men’s club was assisting with it and it looked like it was going to be a fun event with about 15 kids (all under 10 years of age) and 7 adults…
All of us kids went out camping, as did the men’s club.
Everything worked out well until someone in the Men’s club brought out the beer.
Before sundown, my dad ended up being the only man that did not indulge (recovering alcoholic, so he never drank). And he was the only man that was sober enough to chaperone the 15 kids that were camping out.
Decades later, neither of us participate in parish functions anymore as a result.
Of course, this speaks more of the need for temperence then the need to ban alcohol completely.
Actually, in this instance, I believe a ban would have been in order.
When I was a young kid, there was going to be a youth camping trip.
The Men’s club was assisting with it and it looked like it was going to be a fun event with about 15 kids (all under 10 years of age) and 7 adults…
All of us kids went out camping, as did the men’s club.
Everything worked out well until someone in the Men’s club brought out the beer.
Before sundown, my dad ended up being the only man that did not indulge (recovering alcoholic, so he never drank). And he was the only man that was sober enough to chaperone the 15 kids that were camping out.
Decades later, neither of us participate in parish functions anymore as a result.
Of course, this speaks more of the need for temperence then the need to ban alcohol completely.
Actually, in this instance, I believe a ban would have been in order.
S
Scottgun
Guest
Often in conversations on this subject, someone brings up the “stumbling block” objection to serving alcohol. Dave Armstrong has a great dialog dismantling this and other objections: Dialogue on and Apologia for Church-Sponsored Alcohol and Gambling (For Fundraising Purposes, Etc.)
socrates58.blogspot.com/2009/11/dialogue-on-and-apologia-for-church.html
socrates58.blogspot.com/2009/11/dialogue-on-and-apologia-for-church.html
J
JRKH
Guest
In this case I absolutely agree.Of course there is always a bad apple.
When I was a young kid, there was going to be a youth camping trip.
The Men’s club was assisting with it and it looked like it was going to be a fun event with about 15 kids (all under 10 years of age) and 7 adults…
All of us kids went out camping, as did the men’s club.
Everything worked out well until someone in the Men’s club brought out the beer.
Before sundown, my dad ended up being the only man that did not indulge (recovering alcoholic, so he never drank). And he was the only man that was sober enough to chaperone the 15 kids that were camping out.
Decades later, neither of us participate in parish functions anymore as a result.
Of course, this speaks more of the need for temperence then the need to ban alcohol completely.
Actually, in this instance, I believe a ban would have been in order.
The Adults acted sinfully by bringing beer along and then not acting setting a good example.
It’s too bad that this has lead to your non-participation in Parish functions altogether.
Peace
James
K
kage_ar
Guest
Every Diocese has guidelines that prohibit adult chaperones from drinking when on youth events.Of course there is always a bad apple.
When I was a young kid, there was going to be a youth camping trip.
The Men’s club was assisting with it and it looked like it was going to be a fun event with about 15 kids (all under 10 years of age) and 7 adults…
All of us kids went out camping, as did the men’s club.
Everything worked out well until someone in the Men’s club brought out the beer.
Before sundown, my dad ended up being the only man that did not indulge (recovering alcoholic, so he never drank). And he was the only man that was sober enough to chaperone the 15 kids that were camping out.
Decades later, neither of us participate in parish functions anymore as a result.
Of course, this speaks more of the need for temperence then the need to ban alcohol completely.
Actually, in this instance, I believe a ban would have been in order.
Please, participate in your parish functions - don’t let one bad experience cut you off from your family.
T
Trader
Guest
Every year in our diocese we have a special mass for couples celebrating 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries. Afterwards we have a reception where champaign is served along with cake and non-alcoholic punch. The bishop is there, so he must be OK with it. There is no problem with ID’s for people married that long, and not many alcoholics managed to stay married for 50 years.
Our parish has a cash bar at the reception hall where our annual appreciation dinner is held. Our yearly chior party has beer and wine available and the vicar general of our diocese usually attends.
We have never had a problem at any of those functions.
Our parish has a cash bar at the reception hall where our annual appreciation dinner is held. Our yearly chior party has beer and wine available and the vicar general of our diocese usually attends.
We have never had a problem at any of those functions.
A
athansor
Guest
I wonder one thing, and it would probably apply to alcohol at church functions as well as things like inviting friends over for dinner and serving drinks.
If a person goes to a church function, has too much to drink there, then causes an accident driving home, is the church liable? I know that if a bartender serves an intoxicated person and they then have an accident, the bartender can be liable. However, the bartenders go through training in this sort of thing. Does it make a difference if you have a cash bar staffed by a caterer or professional bartender vs. drinks served by church members? What is the responsibility of a church member serving alcohol to asses whether someone has too much to drink, or to verify that someone is of age? How much exposure to lawsuits does a church have?
ETA…I’m not opposed to alcohol at church functions as a matter of morality, and don’t think that drinking is sinful. I enjoy alcohol in moderation myself.
If a person goes to a church function, has too much to drink there, then causes an accident driving home, is the church liable? I know that if a bartender serves an intoxicated person and they then have an accident, the bartender can be liable. However, the bartenders go through training in this sort of thing. Does it make a difference if you have a cash bar staffed by a caterer or professional bartender vs. drinks served by church members? What is the responsibility of a church member serving alcohol to asses whether someone has too much to drink, or to verify that someone is of age? How much exposure to lawsuits does a church have?
ETA…I’m not opposed to alcohol at church functions as a matter of morality, and don’t think that drinking is sinful. I enjoy alcohol in moderation myself.
- Status