I'm not sure that there's an official viewpoint (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but I think it's anything goes provided you're not harming yourself or anyone around you. Respect for human life is an essential Catholic dogma, so engaging in any activity that is harmful would be frowned upon. I've known plenty of priests to have a drink or two and the occasional flutter (eg St Patricks Day) but I'm sure there are plenty of others who abstain too.
It is getting drunk that is the sin, not drinking itself. I've known catholics put a bet on something here and there but I think chronic gambling would be frowned upon.
I am Catholic.
There is nothing wrong with either drinking nor gambling under our religion - provided that the person is not induldging to excess (which would then fall under the sins of gluttony and excess). Jesus himself enjoyed a drink, he even turned water into wine at a wedding so people could celebrate.
I am Catholic.
There is nothing wrong with either drinking nor gambling under our religion - provided that the person is not induldging to excess (which would then fall under the sins of gluttony and excess). Jesus himself enjoyed a drink, he even turned water into wine at a wedding so people could celebrate.
LOL, my first thought was that if drinking and gambling was considered a sin (or similar) in the Catholic church, then someone forgot to tell a few of the priests over the years!
I'm a born and raised Catholic and I don't ever recall hearing at church that either was a no-no. I'm not talking excessive drinking or gambling ... I'd guess that would be frowned upon.
The kids Catholic school offers wine at most school events, there is alcohol at nearly every gathering... and they do footy tipping for the school as a fundraiser.
Wine in particular was seen as a blessing to Israel. It meant that the land was not in drought or famine and the vineyards were flourishing. This is why in Isaiah 1:22 the Lord lamented that Israel's choice wine had been diluted with water (as a result of their idolatry). In future the land will be restored to it's glory without drought or famine and as a result "the mountains will drip new wine" (Joel 3:18).
In addition, I think you will find Paul's advice to young Timothy (1 Tim 5:23) was to stop drinking only water and drink a little wine. Wine was a great purifier of water back then, it seems Timothy was so aghast at drinking alcohol that he didn't even use wine for this purpose (adding it to water to purify it) and Paul corrected him.
You also have Jesus bookending his ministry with wine: making water from wine as His first public miracle (John 2) and also drinking wine as His last meal at the last supper (Luke 22).
The only sense in which drinking is prohibited is against "strong drink" and drunkenness (Prov 20:1, Prov 21:2, etc), and the whole issue of making another Christian/Catholic stumble because of your own drinking behaviour.
The Nazarenes made a vow never to drink alcohol and were so stringent on this that they didn't even eat grapes, or drink grape juice.
Prohibition is usually only seen in conservative / fundamental protestant circles and as you can see I don't really buy the argument for it. I hope that gives you a bit more meat about what kind of thoughts Catholics may have about drinking . There are also a plethora of verses in support of drinking wine and if you want them just let me know.
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Can someone please explain the Catholic view on drinking and gambling??
(as a result of their idolatry). In future the land will be restored to it's glory without drought or famine and as a result "the mountains will drip new wine" (Joel 3:18).
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