Kerala Cardinal calls for liquor–free Christmas to save families

While Christmas, the much anticipated season of the year has begun, a Roman Catholic Cardinal in Kerala, urged Christians to celebrate a liquor–free Christmas this year.

Cardinal Varkey Virthayathil urged Catholics of his Ernakulam–Angamaly archdiocese to celebrate Christmas in a much better and meaningful way.

In a letter addressed to the 94,807 families in his archdiocese in Kerala, the head of the Syro Malabar Church said, church regrets alcohol consumption has become an integral part of all Christian celebrations, whether it's Christmas, Easter or family celebrations.

Cardinal Vithayathil told UCA News that he issued the letter after hearing many priests share experiences from parishes, and after receiving letters from two children of alcoholic fathers.

The prelate who was inspired by a letter written by a high school student whose father, a daily wage earner, spends all his earnings on liquor said, "I was touched by his letter," explaining that the father "never takes care of his children or pays money for their education."

Pointing out the danger in consuming alcoholic beverages, the cardinal said, "The hard–earned money that could educate our children and provide them better care is wasted for a few hours of intoxication. It's a sin against your families. We must say no to liquor. I appeal to all the faithful to celebrate a liquor–free Christmas this year."

Kerala, which contains 19 percent Christians of the 32 million population is among the highest alcohol–consuming states in India.

Christian Life Community (CLC), a Christian unit under the archdiocese, has already begun a campaign urging families to observe a liquor–free Christmas and to encourage youths join the campaign.

"Christmas reminds us about Jesus' love for mankind. But it's sad that it also reminds us about the peril to our families, as the use of liquor is at a maximum during the Christmas season," a CLC official told UCA news.