Why is drunkenness a mortal sin?

[seeker_mom]

I agree that drinking around children is wrong (post #9 on this thread) and dangerous. I also take issue with the fundraisers at our Catholic parishes and schools, such as Night at the Races or auctions and such, that promote “drink more, donate more.” I do not like the fact that my children are benefitting from funds that were raised for their school by someone attending such an event who donated more money than they had planned because they had too much to drink. I would rather know that the money raised was in good faith and donated from the parishioner’s sober heart.

 

[Harsalter]

**while drinking in moderation i think is FINE, it’s the 'i wasn’t ‘planning on getting drunk so i haven’t sinned’ part that MIGHT be a problem.

**

Intent or consent MUST be present for a sin to be mortal. Getting drunk may be a grave sin, but IMO it is not necessarily a mortal sin.

Just as a few people in this thread have stated that alcoholics do not commit sin as alcoholism is a disease. I disagreed and gave my opinions why as I personally don’t like calling alcoholism a disease but simply a bad, highly addictive habit. Alcoholics do sin when they get drunk! But I would think that they may not be giving full consent when they intentionally drink themselves into drunkenness, thus they may not be committing a mortal sin.

 

[theAuthor]

Ok, then if the above is true, then anyone who abuses alcohol is sinning. I drink myself, sometimes too much probably. I suppose when I do it is considered gluttony.

So IMO anyone that abuses or drinks excessively is sinning. Our liberal, modernistic world gives us all kind of terms of excuses, but they are just that, excuses.

I am making a distinction between alcoholism, which has a biochemical foundation (did you read the link I posted?), and excessive drinking. An alcoholic has no control over the way they drink after they start drinking. A heavy drinker retains a choice and chooses to imbibe to excess. That is why AA starts with the first step “We admitted to ourselves that we were powerless over alcohol.”

Have a little compassion on the alcoholic who cannot drink any alcohol and yet it is present at most social events, staff dinners, it is advertised during sport, heck it is even part of the Eucharist! An alcoholic can never return to moderate drinking, in fact if they look back over their drinking career, most *started *drinking excessively in the beginning!

Yes anyone who is a drunkard is sinning, the Bible is clear on that. Yet drinking in moderation is encouraged. An alcoholic cannot consistently drink alcohol in moderation because of their biochemistry, which appears to be inherited (do some research).

 

[NotWorthy]

Yes anyone who is a drunkard is sinning, the Bible is clear on that. Yet drinking in moderation is encouraged. An alcoholic cannot consistently drink alcohol in moderation because of their biochemistry, which appears to be inherited (do some research).

Although I failed biochemistry in College, and I’m not sure that this is the reason, I do know that if I started drinking moderately, chances are I would end up drinking heavily. I do not wish to take that risk.

 

[Greg27]

In contemplating this we should always keep in mind the individual circumstances which lead a person into getting drunk or into alcohol addiction. As with any other ‘grave matter’, several circumstances can play to influence a person to fall into that sin, and pastoral care would take this into account. As a priest related to me, often penance for addictive types of sins is counselling or considering what factors lead into that sin, and also what the sin does to your relationship with God and other people.

We also need to see drunkenness in this light; how does a person’s drunkeneness damage their health? What does it do to their relationship with God? What does it do to their relationships with other people? How does it affect their ability to discharge their duties in the roles they have in life or their station in society? Does their drunkeneness place the lives of other people in danger?

For example social research has shown drunkenness is a major cause or risk factor for many social ills, including road accidents and deaths, drink driving, fighting and assault, rape, domestic violence, unemployment, divorce and family breakdown, and murder. But this doesn’t mean anyone who gets drunk will do these evils, but it can lead to them. Considering the sinfulness of an action and its gravity requires we look at its nature and the destructive effects it has on ourselves and those around is bonded to us in love, and to see how it makes us fall short of the mark God desires for us to reach.

 

[Dwyer]

Someone had a similar question like this in April. I tried to write a Catholic theological explanation on why drunkeness is a sin against God.

A Catholic Answer.

I really don’t want to type all that again. You’re all welcome to click your computer mouse on my name, and look at my previous posts. There about halfway down my first page.

I’ll just repeat one or two things.

There is a Catholic virtue called Temperance. As Catholics we are called to be temperate in all things, including food and drink.

I heard Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa of EWTN say once that we should be filled with the Holy Spirit, and not the spirits of alcohol.

That Wedding Feast of Cana always comes up (John: 2). You need to read the text closely. I have the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, considered by many to be the best scholarly modern translation.

There is absolutely nothing in the text that says people were drunk at the wedding. People may drink a lot at modern weddings today; but that doesn’t mean they necessarily did back then.

In movies depicting the life of Jesus, they may show drunk revelers; but that’s the movies.

Modern Orthodox Jews can only become drunk once a year, during the Spring Festival at Purim. I assume ancient Judaism was similar. (These, granted, are all big assumptions.)

I assume there is something in the Old Testament prohibiting drunkeness.

The text only says when the men have drunk freely, the cheaper when is brought out. Well, there could have been 200 people at the wedding, or more, we don’t know.

Even if the Cana guests did get drunk purposely, that’s their own Free Will. Jesus provided the wine; but he didn’t tell them to abuse it.

We also have to be humble and realize that our thoughts are worthless compared to God and His Holy Will.

We are fallen creatures made in His image, but fallen nonetheless.

We each have a conscience. We each know in our heart of hearts when we have drunk to much. I don’t think there’s a bright line rule, but you know when you’re drunk.

Frankly, I don’t know why anyone would have to drink more than 2 glasses of alcoholic beverages in the space of a day, given that we now have so many other choices they didn’t have in ancient times.

Being Catholic, because of the Natural Law, requires us to obey the Civil (State) law as well. (This was from an EWTN expert, a priest, at their website ewtn,com)

Anything the State legislates that is not contrary to the Natural law must be obeyed.

Many states prohibit underage drinking and being publicly drunk. (Not just while driving).

Thus, if you’ve drunk more than a BAT of .8 (whatever it is in your state), and are walking home from the game, or you’re underage and drunk, you’ve committed a mortal sin, because you’ve broken the Civil law.

We have such a wet society. Alchohol ruins people’s lives.

 

[theAuthor]

Yes there are references in the OT against drunkeness.

broadcaster.org.uk/section2/transcript/drunkenness.htm

Not necessarily the best translations, but good references.

Madrid also stated that Jesus often made merry with wine, and was often accused by his critics of being a drunkard

. Harsalter is that Biblical? He was accused of things because of the company he kept, but I don’t think Jesus was a heavy drinker. If he was, I need to rethink my relationship with God. Some proof please?

 

[NotWorthy]

Yes there are references in the OT against drunkeness.

broadcaster.org.uk/section2/transcript/drunkenness.htm

Not necessarily the best translations, but good references.

. Harsalter is that Biblical? He was accused of things because of the company he kept, but I don’t think Jesus was a heavy drinker. If he was, I need to rethink my relationship with God. Some proof please?

Re-read the post. It says Jesus drank wine and was accused of being a drunkard. I don’t think it says Jesus was a drunkard, for that certainly was not the case.

Often times the “drunk” accusation proved the accuser’s ignorance, as when the Jews thought the Apostles at Pentecost were drunk.

 

[Zooey]

For example social research has shown drunkenness is a major cause or risk factor for many social ills, including road accidents and deaths, drink driving, fighting and assault, rape, domestic violence, unemployment, divorce and family breakdown, and murder. But this doesn’t mean anyone who gets drunk will do these evils, but it can lead to them. Considering the sinfulness of an action and its gravity requires we look at its nature and the destructive effects it has on ourselves and those around is bonded to us in love, and to see how it makes us fall short of the mark God desires for us to reach.

I have been avoiding this thread, until I could post with some degree of charity…Greg’s post here, has given me the chance to say what I want to say, with love. Thank you, Greg!

That said: I have multiple handicaps due to an automobile accident. My father was killed in that accident. My mother died the next day. It took me a year & a half to be able to walk again, & that is the least of my problems.
That accident was caused by a drunken driver plowing into the car that Daddy was driving. He drove off the road, into an empty lot, & the drunk kept right on coming after us.
The drunk got his driver’s license suspended for 6 months. Period, end of punishment…
He committed double murder, and nearly killed me in the process. When the police told him the next day, when he sobered up, what he had done, his reply was, “Yeah?? So what? It was a great party!!”:banghead: :banghead:

That, my friends, is why drunkenness is a mortal sin. Because it can make you into a murderer…and you won’t even remember. You may, in fact,:crying: not even care…
:twocents: from someone who has been on the other end of the stick.

 

[Romick]

As someone who has been married to an alcoholic for many years, I can agree that getting drunk is definitely a sin, according to Scripture and Church law. You only have to witness the loss of a sense of morality, ever escalating, despite rehabs and little slaps on the hand for drunk driving.

Alcoholism is usually defined as a 3-fold problem: mental, moral or spiritual and physical. Addiction is a very real problem and genetics seem involved. But no one is forced to take the first drink, especially when he has driven a car to the bar. Many drinks later the car will be driven home, when intoxicated thinking will say it’s ok to drive.

As for why drunkedness is a mortal sin - because it abuses the body and leads one to immorality. It is the misuse of something God created for good. Frankly, it’s been my observation that most people don’t like the idea of it being a mortal sin simply because there’s such a low amount of alchohol that can be imbibed before intoxication - a couple of drinks for most people.
And, judging by the amount of beer and other such beverages our country drinks, many, many people like their booze. The laws of both the church and state are annoying to them.

 

[RPConover]

Thus, if you’ve drunk more than a BAT of .8 (whatever it is in your state), and are walking home from the game, or you’re underage and drunk, you’ve committed a mortal sin, because you’ve broken the Civil law.

By that measure, if I purposely go even one mile per hour over the speed limit while driving (Say, keeping with the flow of traffic) I’ve committed a mortal sin, need to confess and if I die will go to hell. Does that sound a little odd at all to you?

I think you’re forgetting that a mortal sin also consists of grave matter. Do you really think that a person with a normal tolerance for alcohol having three beers and then walking home constitutes grave matter?

 

[outfctrl]

Wow, this thread really opened my eyes. I drink tequila every nite while playing World of WarCraft or Ultima Online on the computer.
Most of the time I just get mellow, then I go to bed, but sometimes I do drink too much and when I get up, I stagger. I live alone, no one is around and I dont drive under the influence. I never drink during the day, only after 5 pm.

Since I came back to the Church after 30 plus years a few weeks ago, I have stopped going to my biker bars, drinking there and picking up women. I was riding my motorcycle with a nice glow on me after a few scotches.

I now just drink at home with no kids around. Am I still committing a mortal sin at home?

 

[Bennie_P]

Wow, this thread really opened my eyes. I drink tequila every nite while playing World of WarCraft or Ultima Online on the computer.
Most of the time I just get mellow, then I go to bed, but sometimes I do drink too much and when I get up, I stagger. I live alone, no one is around and I dont drive under the influence. I never drink during the day, only after 5 pm.

Since I came back to the Church after 30 plus years a few weeks ago, I have stopped going to my biker bars, drinking there and picking up women. I was riding my motorcycle with a nice glow on me after a few scotches.

I now just drink at home with no kids around. Am I still committing a mortal sin at home?

What affect is it having on your health, drinking that much every day?

 

[outfctrl]

Not affecting it from what I know. I go for regular check ups.
Doesnt affect my work. Plus, I do not get sloppy drunk. Just a few shots a nite. Just over did it the other nite.

The problem with tequila is that you dont realize how much you have had till you get up…LOL

I have already committed to slow down.

 

[Dwyer]

Conover . . . it’s possible that such a violation of the civil law could only be a venial sin; I’d have to look at the ewtn.com site again where they have Catholic experts answer people’s questions.

It’s either mortal or venial sin to violate a state’s law that does not contradict the moral law. I’m know I read something to this effect on the ewtn.com site. As Catholics were obliged to obey Civil law; again as long as it doesn’t go against the Natural Law (e.g., abortion, doleing out “emergency” “contraception” pills, etc.)

However, I probably won’t have time to look this up again until the end of next week.

It could go either way; even slightly intoxicated people are endangering their lives and possibly others walking around drunk because their senses are dulled; they tend to not notice cars, cross streets when the crosswalk says don’t cross, etc.

 

[Nino]

In contemplating this we should always keep in mind the individual circumstances which lead a person into getting drunk or into alcohol addiction. As with any other ‘grave matter’, several circumstances can play to influence a person to fall into that sin, and pastoral care would take this into account. As a priest related to me, often penance for addictive types of sins is counselling or considering what factors lead into that sin, and also what the sin does to your relationship with God and other people.

We also need to see drunkenness in this light; how does a person’s drunkeneness damage their health? What does it do to their relationship with God? What does it do to their relationships with other people? How does it affect their ability to discharge their duties in the roles they have in life or their station in society? Does their drunkeneness place the lives of other people in danger?

For example social research has shown drunkenness is a major cause or risk factor for many social ills, including road accidents and deaths, drink driving, fighting and assault, rape, domestic violence, unemployment, divorce and family breakdown, and murder. But this doesn’t mean anyone who gets drunk will do these evils, but it can lead to them. Considering the sinfulness of an action and its gravity requires we look at its nature and the destructive effects it has on ourselves and those around is bonded to us in love, and to see how it makes us fall short of the mark God desires for us to reach.

 

[Nino]

to become lightheaded on purpose is to be a risk for all concerned…children playing at home or in the streets…etc…tempting one self for momentary pleasure is a sin and stupid…once its a disease of course it no longer is a sin but a horrible mistake that must be treated…but if the aaa person goes willingly back to this crutch…then back to it being a sin again…demon rum has caused more deaths then stupid wars…

 

[Bennie_P]

to become lightheaded on purpose is to be a risk for all concerned…children playing at home or in the streets…etc…tempting one self for momentary pleasure is a sin and stupid…once its a disease of course it no longer is a sin but a horrible mistake that must be treated…but if the aaa person goes willingly back to this crutch…then back to it being a sin again…demon rum has caused more deaths then stupid wars…

It is always a sin, to choose not to get help is a free will act.
Which is worse, a teenager who only got drunk once in his whole life that gets in a car accident and kills an innocent person? or someone who has been a drunk for 20 years has a car accident and kills an innocent person?

 

[theAuthor]

Wow, this thread really opened my eyes. I drink tequila every nite while playing World of WarCraft or Ultima Online on the computer.
Most of the time I just get mellow, then I go to bed, but sometimes I do drink too much and when I get up, I stagger. I live alone, no one is around and I dont drive under the influence. I never drink during the day, only after 5 pm.

Since I came back to the Church after 30 plus years a few weeks ago, I have stopped going to my biker bars, drinking there and picking up women. I was riding my motorcycle with a nice glow on me after a few scotches.

I now just drink at home with no kids around. Am I still committing a mortal sin at home?

Sounds to me like you are doing really well, leaving you old life behind overall. Assuming you are a Catholic, I’d confess the times you went OTT with a priest and let them judge the state of your soul. Forgiveness is at hand.

 

[outfctrl]

Sounds to me like you are doing really well, leaving you old life behind overall. Assuming you are a Catholic, I’d confess the times you went OTT with a priest and let them judge the state of your soul. Forgiveness is at hand.

Yes, I am Catholic. Baptized, 1st Communion and Confirmation. Joined the Navy and put my Faith aside.
I am back and will make it work. I go to confession every week and 8 am Mass every Sunday. Well, when I say every, this is my third time since I have been back…LOL

If it wasnt for all the encouragement I got on here, I might not have gone. I always had an excuse not to go.