Headlines
Sacramental wine: Catholic Church in Kerala courts controversy
Thiruvananthapuram, May 20
The Catholic Church
in Kerala, which has supported the government's steps on prohibition,
has courted controversy by seeking permission to increase the production
of sacramental wine.
The Syro Malabar Church in Kochi is hogging
the headlines on TV channels since Tuesday after it became known it had
applied for an increase in the production of sacramental wine or mass
wine.
Paul Thelekat, spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Church at Kochi, told IANS that a mountain is being made out of a molehill.
"Yes,
we had applied for increase in production of sacramental wine used
during our mass. Our diocese currently has an annual production of 1,500
litres of wine, which was last increased over 20 years ago. This time
we have applied for 5.000 litres," said Thelekat.
About the
reason for seeking the increase Thelekat said there were many. "Look,
the number of churches in our diocese has gone up dramatically in the
past two decades. Hence there are more members which leads to more
religious functions. So it natural that our requirement of wine will
increase" said Thelekat.
Sacramental wine is made from grapes
and used in celebration of the Eucharist (Lord's Supper or Holy
Communion). While the Catholics are very particular about the use of
wine, the Thiruvalla-headquartered Mar Thoma Church is not.
An
official of the Mar Thoma church who did not wish to be identified told
IANS that they use dry raisins and pour a little water and keep it
overnight.
"The next morning just before the service, it is
mashed and the liquid is used as wine and is given to our laity. The
rest is equally shared by the priest and his assistants. Now-a-days in
many of our churches, to make things easy, we use grape squash," the
church official said.
Sources in the excise department have
confirmed that the application from the Kochi dioceses of the Syro
Malabar church has been received. All the necessary procedures are
complete and they will be permitted to increase the production of wine
from 1,500 litres to 5,000 litres annually.
The Catholic Church,
in particular, has been very vocal that the Oommen Chandy government go
ahead with its policy to achieve total prohibition by 2023 in the
state.