what is the catholic view of moderate drinking?

Question

I'm a Catholic, and I do drink alcohol. I never get even close to being truly drunk, but there is a lot of ground between being falling down, vomiting drunk and being "buzzed." I'm just wondering if there is some principle of Catholic moral thinking that allows you to discern when you are sinning even slightly with regard to alcohol consumption. Thanks!

Answer 1

Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, ... (John 2:7-9)

Wine is used throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The first recorded miracle of Jesus was to turn water in wine at the wedding in Cana.

It is true that we should not become drunk but used in moderation, wine is a biblically acceptable beverage.

Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because it is now that God favors your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7)

What would Jesus do? Jesus had a cup of wine with dinner.

If some people wish to totally forego alcohol to eliminate the temptation to over indulge, that's fine. But I don't think they should force that unbiblical practice onto others.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I'm Lutheran, and in the same boat as you as far as drinking habits are concerned. So, I guess I'm coming at it from a Christian moral viewpoint as opposed to distinctly Catholic. Well, we know Jesus drank wine occasionally. If he would have considered "moderate" drinking to be a moral problem in the future, never mind the fact that it was just what people drank socially in many situations at the time, he would probably have abstained. In my opinion, sin only occurs when you drink enough to either lose control of yourself in regards to how you treat others (either intentionally or unintentionally) or when you do damage to your body (A.K.A. God's temple). Being "drunk" would automatically lead to either of those situations, even if it's only a few hundred brain cells you're killing. Also, moderacy is different in different people. If 2 drinks gets you drunk, stop after 1. If it takes 10-11 (well, then I would question harming yourself), but to complete the comparison, stop at 9. I know a little tiny girl, legal of course, who can hold her alcohol like no other! Me, I've never looked for my upper limit, simply b/c I don't care to. Hope I've helped! Have a great day!

Answer 3

Prohibition worked great whilst it replaced right into a State via State selection of despite if to be a "dry" State of a "moist" State. Prohibition became a fiasco whilst it became Federal regulation, because of the fact the entire Federal government became corrupted from the suited to the backside because of the unseemly revenue of the unlawful substance of Prohibition, alcohol. additionally the federal government at that factor replaced into very corrupt. Now days the federal government is much greater corrupt. distinctive human beings have a top to have distinctive regulations, or a loss of regulations because of the fact the case would be. THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints has no solid place on what the government could do approximately alcohol abuse or drug abuse, yet each and every now and then the LDS Church does tell it incredibly is members if there is an initiative on the ballet that concerns alcohol or drugs. God bless.

Answer 4

It is okay. The Bible condemns "dunkeness", but that is not the same as having a glass of wine with a meal, as Jesus did. Now, if your intent is to get "buzzed" as you say, you are dangerously close to sinning. But, as I said, having a glass of wine with a meal, for example, is not a sin.
You can find great answers to this and other questions by searching through this site: http://www.catholic.com/

To "emerald": That's just the kind of answer that makes Catholics look bad. If you don't care what the Church thinks, why even bother calling yourself a Catholic?

Answer 5

The only thing the Catechism of the Catholic Church says on the subject is that those who endanger the safety of themselves or others through drunkenness are guilty of sin. I would add that intentionally placing ourselves in a position where we completely or largely lose self-control - which is to say, where our rational thinking is substantially compromised - is spiritually dangerous since conscience and decisions of free will are directly affected by rational thinking or lack of same. However, there is nothing in Catholicism that forbids moderate social drinking.

Answer 6

I am Catholic and I have never heard anything about drinking being bad. It is actaully an old joke that the Catholics are the drinkers and partyers of the religions. And that holds true for my family!

Answer 7

All of the catholics I know get drunk and carry on terribly saturday night and then ask for forgiveness sunday morning. Some will even go to saturday night mass then go out after wards and get ripped knowing that they are all forgiven. I think it's disgusting and as bad as the Christian Coalition 2 faces out there.

Answer 8

The Catholic viewpoint is based on scriptures especially Epistles, One example is found in James 5:12.

For others, use a bible search engine for drunk, drunkard, and drunkenness.

Answer 9

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Proverbs 23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. 31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. 32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. 34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. 35 "They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink."

Answer 10

I visited a Catholic church and they had a beer truck selling beer on the property. When I walked into the building they had a chest of liquor being auctioned off. They must think drinking is O.K.