Thursday, November 06, 2008

Church wine finally legal in Brookfield

Churches of Brookfield IL may now worship in the light of day, unfettered by the draconian statutes of Brookfield law.

The Riverside/Brookfield Landmark reports that they will no longer need to refrain from using wine during communion or run the sordid risk of arrest for doing so. After many decades, their services are legal.

That at least was the message sent by the Brookfield village board on Oct. 27, when trustees voted unanimously to amend the liquor code, which heretofore basically outlawed offering wine during church services.

Not that anyone even knew about churches engaging in repeated lawlessness. Least of all the churches themselves.

But until Oct. 27, the law on the books stated that it was illegal in Brookfield "for any person directly or indirectly responsible for any premises to which the public is admitted to give or offer alcoholic liquor for consumption or to allow any individuals upon such premises to consume alcoholic liquors unless said person is licensed to sell alcoholic liquor on said premises."

Trustees on Oct. 27 added a clause to that ordinance providing for "dispensation of wine" during church services.

Just what enforcement village officials would have thought possible with respect to Catholic churches is unclear. While wine is used during the Catholic Mass, the faithful believe that it becomes the blood of Christ during consecration.
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(Source: CTHUS)