[topcat54]

And I’m not talking an occasional social drink, either. Ever been to a Catholic wedding?

Yes, actually I was raised Roman Catholic and attended quite a few.

I didn’t get the impression that abuse was the object of your original comment. I would agree that abuse is possible. I’ve never witnessed an RC priest practice or encourage the abuse of alcohol as a regular thing.

[metmom]

I’ve never witnessed an RC priest practice or encourage the abuse of alcohol as a regular thing.

I didn't suggest they did.

What I said was that lay Catholics excuse their own smoking and drinking based on the priests participation of it.

At the very least, they are setting a bad example.

[Cronos]

Met "And I’m not talking an occasional social drink, either. Ever been to a Catholic wedding?"

Firstly, you mean the wedding PARTY, not the wedding itself.

Secondly, I'm sorry but this shows a purely US-centric worldview. Have you ever been to Catholic wedding parties outside the US, in different cultures etc? In Irish and English wedding parties there is a lot of alcohol, but less in South-Indian wedding parties. It varies by culture, nationality and even individuals. In Poland, the Lutherans have parties that are just like Catholic ones because both are part of Polish culture. Culture plays a big role in the wedding PARTIES.