Kerala: Catholic Church approach excise department to increase quantity of mass wine

The diocese wants to increase the annual volume from 1600 litres to 5000 litres, citing the growing number of Catholic population in the diocese.

The Catholic arch-diocese of Ernakulam, which has Cardinal George Alanchery as its arch-bishop, has approached the excise department to increase the quantity of mass wine being produced at its brewery.

The diocese wants to increase the annual volume from 1600 litres to 5000 litres, citing the growing number of Catholic population in the diocese.

Excise Department sources said the demand has been accepted after examining their facility and necessary orders would be issued soon.

Church using wine for the Mass, although a global practice, had recently become debate in Kerala against the backdrop of the government decision to close all bars and go for prohibition in next decade.

As the Catholic Church has been in the fore front of campaign for prohibition, several quarters had found a hypocrisy behind the anti-liquor agitation of the Church vis-à-vis its liquor license to produce mass wine. In Kerala, various dioceses have together 23 abkari licenses to produce mass wine. A senior non-Catholic bishop had even opined that instead of wine, grape water should be used during the Mass.

Church spokesman Fr Paul Thelakkattu said “we wanted an enhancement in production because the number of the churches have increased as well as the Masses in the churches. There is high migration to the Kochi city and Ernakulam district from other areas and there are more priests also. Since the population has increased the Masses celebrated in the churches also increased. The quota fixed since 23 years back needed enhancement. For one Mass, may be one or two ounce of wine would be used. This is a liturgical use which in no way can be seen related to liquor policy,” he said.

Source:: Indian Express