Holy tipple may take priests over limit

One of Ireland's most high-profile priests has warned that clergymen are concerned that two masses or more in a day could push them over the legal limit for drink driving. As the Vatican forbids the use of non-alcoholic wine in the communion service, priests have no choice but to consume wine from the chalice on the altar.

And with a chronic shortage of priests both in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, Father Brian D'Arcy says that many priests often celebrate more than one mass a day, sometimes in different parishes. "The shortage of priests has resulted in those who are currently ministering having to say multiple masses, and often drive from church to church to do so, having drunk from the chalice in each church," he said.



Father D'Arcy said there may be enough alcohol in a priest's bloodstream to fail a drink-driving test. One priest in Co Galway has already told his local paper, the Tuam Herald, his fears about multiple masses pushing him over the legal limit.

He added that even long after celebrating several masses priests could have to take to the road if they were called out to give the last rites to someone. "After doing several masses I often have to drive off immediately to visit some person who may be very ill in hospital," he said.