Bishop Francisco Cota de Oliveira of Sete Lagoas, Brazil, has banned the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at recreational events, fundraising activities, bingos, and cash-prize raffles held during religious festivals throughout his diocese.
"It is the Church's mission to exhort the faithful to bear witness to the virtues and to avoid vices," Cota stated in two decrees establishing the new rules. According to the bishop, "the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that vices can be classified according to the virtues they oppose."
"The virtue of temperance disposes one to avoid every kind of excess, including the abuse of alcohol," the bishop said. The catechism also states that "it is praiseworthy to impose restitution "to correct vices and maintain justice."
Sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages
Cota cited Document 100 of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB, by its Portuguese acronym), which states: "The sale and consumption of alcohol at patron saint festivals and other religious events stand in contrast to the Church's efforts to combat drug abuse. There is an urgent need for the conversion of parish communities to avoid the counter-witness of promoting alcohol consumption at stalls and other community recreational activities."
According to the bishop, "Pope Francis' encyclical Amoris Laetitia, on the family, views drug addiction as one of the scourges of our time — one that causes suffering for many families and, not infrequently, ends up destroying them."
Ban on bingo games and raffles with cash awards
In a second decree, Cota stated that "bingo games and other raffles offering cash awards tend to lead people into addiction to various forms of gaming and betting." He further pointed out that, "under current legislation, holding unauthorized raffles and conducting bingo games constitute criminal misdemeanors, as defined in Article 51 of Law 3.688/41 and Article 50 of Law 3.688/41, respectively."
The bishop noted that Amoris Laetitia regards "games of chance and other addictions as scourges of our time that cause suffering for many families and, not infrequently, end up destroying them." The bishop's decree also cites CNBB Document 114, which draws attention to gambling addiction, noting that it "causes great suffering and indebtedness within countless families and in society."
According to Cota, "tithe offerings and spontaneous contributions from the faithful are the proper means for the Church's financial maintenance."
"Should it become necessary to conduct a donation drive offering prizes to participants, or to hold recreational raffles, the prizes must consist of small gifts and household items," the bishop decreed.
This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
