Catholic

Early church rules against drinking alcohol

Tertullian (c. 160-220 AD) Tertullian strikingly compared the strong penalty of the Levitical priests to ministers in the Church. ‘For abstinence from wine withal has honourable badges of its own… So true is it, that such as shall have ministered in the Church, being not sober, shall “die”’. (Tertullian, Fasts, Ch. 9, ‘From Fasts Absolute Tertullian …

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Catholic Church vs Alcohol

See also: Bible says be sober again and again. Bernard Tolomeo (1272-1348) Tolomeo founded the Olivetan order of Benedictine monks. A late critic asserts: ‘They were also fanatical total abstainers … vineyards were rooted up and the wine-presses and vessels destroyed.’ Olivetans, Catholic Encyclopedia. Benedict himself (480-543) had noted that in earlier times it was …

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The advantages of unfermented grape juice for the Lord’s Supper

See also: Bible says be sober again and again. Caution with the vague term ‘wine’ in communion service A minister today needs caution when using unfermented grape juice and simply calling it ‘wine’ during a communion service. Participants may become confused, unless it is specifically stated that it is not the fermented type. They may …

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