Manslaughter charge prompts church to examine relationship with alcohol

From The Washington Post-

With a history of sherries at church coffee hour and wine during Holy Communion, Episcopalians have long endured — and shared — jokes about their drinking (for example: “wherever two or three are gathered, there’s a fifth.”) Yet the relationship is complicated.

The denomination stood out a century ago for saying alcoholism wasn’t an evil. And Episcopal clergy played a significant role in the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Which is why, in a way, it seemed surprising this week when a top church leader said the case of Heather Cook — the Maryland bishop now accused of killing a biker while driving drunk — revealed Episcopalians’ “systemic denial about alcohol and other drug abuse.” Leaders will review church policies on drug and alcohol abuse for the first time in 30 years when they have their once-every-three-years meeting this summer.

More here-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/manslaughter-charge-prompts-church-to-examine-relationship-with-alcohol/2015/02/11/98acf034-b194-11e4-854b-a38d13486ba1_story.html