I personally don’t mind, but see how it can become problematic. On the other hand, the food isn’t usually healthy - another occasion for sin. No one is monitoring dress code - a possible occasion for sin. Smoking outdoors is legal - possible occasion for sin… etc.I don’t like the alcohol at such events and have said so to my Pastor. Alcohol is more than just a small occasion for sin and the Church has no business serving it.
I wont volunteer for or attend events like our silent auction where many get very drunk, or gambling nights.
-Tim-
It’s not likely that someone will leave your event after smoking or eating too much and accidentally kill someone with their car.I personally don’t mind, but see how it can become problematic. On the other hand, the food isn’t usually healthy - another occasion for sin. No one is monitoring dress code - a possible occasion for sin. Smoking outdoors is legal - possible occasion for sin… etc.
that is a good point, there is a liability taken on with the parish when they serve alcohol at these types of events. I’ve seen where they try to limit what is served but again, I am not sure how well that can bee enforced.It’s not likely that someone will leave your event after smoking or eating too much and accidentally kill someone with their car.
would it be better if everyone was asked to walk, bike, or cab if having a drink?It’s not likely that someone will leave your event after smoking or eating too much and accidentally kill someone with their car.
How could you enforce that?would it be better if everyone was asked to walk, bike, or cab if having a drink?
Perhaps it is just the area that my parish is in, then. Lots of people come down out of the mountains and what not to attend our parish festival - they tend to be a rowdy crowd. I can say this for sure however: without the revenue generated by our annual festival (which lasts for 3 nights), my parish could not sustain itself. So if it rains that particular weekend, we are in big trouble. I’m not sure exactly how much of that money comes from the sale of beer. But, honestly, does selling beer at a festival really contribute to drunkenness if the right precautions are taken? I don’t think so.I doubt people bring alcohol to Protestant events. We have a large music festival in town every year where they bring in contemporary Christian music artists. Literally thousands attend. I have never heard they have a problem with alcohol at such events, but maybe I’m just missing it. The event is free – they aren’t trying to raise funds for a church. I actually think alcohol could be eliminated from our events and the same amount of real funds could be raised. I’ve never heard that these events are really profitable. They amount to a small contribution to the parish budget with the main purpose being fellowship for the community. I do wonder if alcohol at these events contributes to a stereotype of the drunken Catholic that is so common in Protestant circles.
I think you missed his point. Someone who maybe ate too much or smoked isn’t going to get in their car, lose control and kill someone. 50% of all car accidents are causing by alcohol use. I work in a hospital lab and I was once called in a second degree murder case where someone drinking too much killed a man who was out to get pizza for dinner. Stuff like this really isn’t very funny. I remember seeing the widow sitting in court. Looking at her made me feel sick with grief because this was so preventable and so unfair.would it be better if everyone was asked to walk, bike, or cab if having a drink?
There was a Catholic Church where I grew up in Pa. that also had a festival of this type. We used to enjoy going. But on your point, I agree. Providing beer does not necessarily lead to drunkenness anymore than providing food leads to gluttony.Perhaps it is just the area that my parish is in, then. Lots of people come down out of the mountains and what not to attend our parish festival - they tend to be a rowdy crowd. I can say this for sure however: without the revenue generated by our annual festival (which lasts for 3 nights), my parish could not sustain itself. So if it rains that particular weekend, we are in big trouble. I’m not sure exactly how much of that money comes from the sale of beer. **But, honestly, does selling beer at a festival really contribute to drunkenness if the right precautions are taken? ** I don’t think so.
But gluttony is not likely to kill others while drunkenness often does. Why take the risk of encouraging potentially dangerous results just for a little cash? The Methodists seem to handle this correctly at their church functions by not including alcohol.There was a Catholic Church where I grew up in Pa. that also had a festival of this type. We used to enjoy going. But on your point, I agree. Providing beer does not necessarily lead to drunkenness anymore than providing food leads to gluttony.
Jon
Drunkenness, like gluttony kills the drunk/glutton primarily, slowly; it only affects another when another component is added (e.g. driving, fighting, etc).But gluttony is not likely to kill others while drunkenness often does. Why take the risk of encouraging potentially dangerous results just for a little cash? The Methodists seem to handle this correctly at their church functions by not including alcohol.
I think the answer may depend on location and time. Apparently some of my Scandinavian Lutheran forefathers were, at least in America, teetotalers and also did not play cards, dance or smoke. I’ve heard of a Protestant youth fund raiser in Germany where the youth sold a lunch which included beer. I live in the South which is considered the most anti-alcohol region in the US. A local Protestant church has a very old and popular Easter service. In the past before the automobile people would travel up the night before and camp out for the service. Apparently drinking and rowdiness was such a problem that they invented a Saturday service to keep the folks from having too much fun on their own with the bottle.Do Protestants have church events which include alcohol or do they tend to frown on these activities at church?
Except that there is nothing wrong with drinking in moderation. The Church does not support drunkenness in anyway. An Evangelical convert need not partake of any alcohol as a Catholic. John the Baptist didn’t drink. Jesus did - in moderation. No one is forced to drink, but there is nothing at all wrong with enjoying alcohol responsibly.This article is two years old, but it raises a lot of thought-provoking points: crossroadschristian.org/blogs/blog/12806077-can-a-christian-drink-alcohol#.U4SevI-wRnz.facebook
Alcohol use was the Number One stumbling block when I was considering converting from Evangelical Protestantism to Catholicism. Mary, the Pope, even indulgences–I accepted those with little fuss. But alcohol use by Christians–after ten years of Catholicism, I still have a very, very VERY difficult time with this.
When I mentioned this thread to my husband, he referred me to the article above, and added, “Make sure to tell them that if they are serious about seeing Evangelical Protestants come home to the Catholic Church–if they are really, truly SERIOUS about wanting converts to Catholicism–they would stop drinking alcohol. Many Evangelical Protestants simply cannot get past the major stumbling block of alcohol use by Christian.”
I agree with my husband. I personally think that if the Catholic Church condemned alcohol use by Christians, we would see a massive exodus of Evangelical Protestants into the Catholic Church.
I personally believe Jesus will be merciful to Protestants who couldn’t and wouldn’t convert to Catholicism because they can’t accept alcohol use by Christians, and He will welcome them to heaven anyway.
And I wonder what Jesus will do to Catholics who insist on drinking alcohol and brush off the possibility that their drinking is a stumbling block to Evangelical Protestants. I know Jesus is merciful, though, and it will probably all come out OK, I hope.
In closing, I would ask YOU, fellow Catholics–if you knew that a Protestant would convert to Catholicism if YOU quit drinking–would you?
Did you read the article?Except that there is nothing wrong with drinking in moderation. The Church does not support drunkenness in anyway. An Evangelical convert need not partake of any alcohol as a Catholic. John the Baptist didn’t drink. Jesus did - in moderation. No one is forced to drink, but there is nothing at all wrong with enjoying alcohol responsibly.
The Church will not condemn the use of alcohol because there is nothing wrong with alcohol when properly enjoyed. What the Church can and does condemn is drunkenness and the wanton licentiousness that follows having too much to drink.
If this is truly stumbling block for Evangelicals - if the reputation of alcohol consumption in the Catholic Church is what is preventing them from sharing in the fullness of Truth - then they need to get their priorities straight.