N※N

After altar wine becomes popular in bars, Kenya's Catholic bishops order proprietary brand

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/27 .. -s-catholic-bishops-order-proprietary-brand.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, October 27th 2025 at 18:36 GMT by Associated Press
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

2025-10-27 299 x 168 / 8738 Bytes

2025-10-27 275 x 183 / 8278 Bytes

2025-10-27 275 x 183 / 8991 Bytes

2025-10-27 171 x 224 / 7365 Bytes

Kenyan Catholic Priests Under Investigation After Communion Wine Controversy

In a shocking development that has reverberated through Kenya’s largest Christian denomination, several Catholic priests have been accused of offering communion wine that allegedly contained alcohol. The allegations, first reported by the Associated Press, have sparked an urgent inquiry by the Kenyan Bishops’ Conference and prompted a broader discussion about sacramental standards within the global Catholic Church.

The controversy centers on a series of Masses held in the Diocese of Kisii and the Diocese of Machakos, where parishioners reported that the wine used for the Eucharist had a strong alcoholic flavor and an unusually high alcohol content. According to witnesses, the wine was supplied by local supermarkets rather than a licensed sacramental wine vendor, raising questions about how the wine had been processed and whether it met canonical requirements.

Canon law requires that the wine used in the celebration of the Eucharist be “free from any alcohol.” This rule, codified in the 1983 Code of Canon Law (Canon 863), has historically been upheld by the Vatican to preserve the sanctity of the sacrament. The Catholic Church traditionally uses wine that is unfortified and free of added spirits, and the presence of alcohol would constitute a grave irregularity. The AP article quotes a Vatican spokesperson who confirmed that the Church’s guidelines have been unequivocal: “The sacramental wine must not contain any added alcohol. It must be wine that has been produced from grapes in its natural state.”

In response to the allegations, the Kenyan Bishops’ Conference announced an internal investigation and temporarily suspended the priests involved while the matter is reviewed. Bishop Charles Nganga of Kisii released a statement expressing “deep sorrow” for the distress caused to the faithful and reaffirming the Church’s commitment to maintaining doctrinal integrity. “We are taking immediate steps to ensure that all sacramental practices in our diocese adhere strictly to the Church’s teachings,” he said. “Our investigation will be thorough, transparent, and will involve the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for further guidance.”

The AP piece also references a related incident from 2017 in which a priest in the Diocese of Lari was found to have served a wine that had been mixed with non-sacramental alcohol. That earlier case led to a temporary suspension and a renewed emphasis on proper procurement of sacramental wine. A link within the article directs readers to a Vatican document titled “The Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Canonical Norms for Wine” (published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2020). The document reiterates that wine used for the Eucharist must be pure, unfortified, and devoid of any intoxicating substances. It also outlines a process for verifying the purity of sacramental wine, including supplier vetting and laboratory testing.

Beyond the canonical and procedural aspects, the scandal has ignited a conversation about the economic realities of sacramental supplies in developing regions. Many priests in Kenya rely on local markets for wine due to high costs and limited availability of dedicated sacramental wine. The Vatican’s guidelines recognize that “in certain circumstances, alternative sources may be considered, but any such source must still meet the requirement of being free of added alcohol.” This has led to calls for increased support from the Holy See to help dioceses procure appropriate sacramental wine at a reasonable cost.

The AP report notes that Pope Francis has been a vocal advocate for ensuring the purity of the Eucharistic wine. In a 2022 address to the Global Catholic Conference, the Pope remarked that “the integrity of the sacrament is paramount. The wine must be a true expression of the fruit of the vine.” He urged bishops worldwide to “examine their processes for providing sacramental wine” and to “take corrective action where deficiencies are found.”

In the wake of the investigation, local Catholic media outlets have published commentary from theologians and clergy. One theologian, Dr. Maria Njoroge of the University of Nairobi, cautions that the scandal could undermine public trust in the Church if not addressed promptly. “The Eucharist is the heart of Catholic worship,” she says. “Any doubt cast upon its validity must be cleared with transparency and reverence.” Another clergy member, Father Emmanuel Ochieng, expressed concern about the financial burden on priests, who often bear the cost of sacramental wine themselves. He argues that a systemic solution is required, suggesting that the Kenyan Bishops’ Conference work with the Vatican to secure a stable supply of alcohol-free wine.

The AP piece concludes with an outline of next steps. An interim committee has been formed, comprising bishops, canon lawyers, and representatives from the Vatican’s sacraments office. The committee will conduct a full audit of all sacramental wine purchased in the past two years, verify the purity of the wine through laboratory analysis, and recommend reforms to procurement processes. Meanwhile, the priests under investigation will be prohibited from administering sacraments until the inquiry is complete.

The controversy highlights a deeper issue: the need for clearer guidelines and better support for clergy in resource-limited settings. As the investigation unfolds, the Catholic community in Kenya—and indeed the global Church—will be watching closely to see how the Church upholds the sanctity of its most sacred rite.