Wine Country!

Reports from several visitors regarding the consumption of wine at the Blessed John Henry Newman group in Orange County, CA keep coming in, to the point that I really can't ignore them. I discussed this based on a couple of early reports here, but since then, I've had many more. I agree with the visitor who is concerned that there's not enough support and supervision of this and other groups from Houston. However, it's also the case that the priest responsible for this group, Andrew Bartus, seems to enjoy particular influence and favor in Catholic circles, which many who've gotten to know him feel is misguided. Fathers, this is eventually going to come back and bite you.

Let's start with what I think is a fairly liberal alcohol policy I found at random by searching Episcopal dioceses, that of the Diocese of East Carolina. (I'm familiar, though, with two Episcopal parishes in the Hollywood-West Los Angeles area that have strict no-alcohol-on-premises policies.) The East Carolina policy begins, "Our Church, in accordance with its tradition of moderation and balance, recognizes that alcohol can be used wisely." However, it specifies,

Alcohol is not appropriate to serve at every church-sponsored function, but if the congregational policy permits it to be served in any form, non-alcoholic alternatives must be offered. Non-alcoholic beverages must be served with the same attractiveness and accessibility as those containing alcohol, so that people who choose not to drink alcoholic beverages need not feel any embarrassment, discomfort, or inconvenience in exercising their preference.

It says later,

The beverages and other foods containing alcohol may be offered with nonalcoholic alternatives, they must never be promoted in such a way as to imply that partaking of them is any kind of social requirement. Promotion of parish events at which alcoholic beverages will be served should not include in the event's title specific reference to the alcoholic beverage (e.g., "Crab Feast" rather than "Beer and Crab Supper".

And,

All applicable Federal, State and Local laws and ordinances, including those governing the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages to minors, must be observed.

The reports I've received from observers, as well as numerous announcements on the web of Newman group events, or others in which Bartus is involved, indicate that prudent guidelines like these are simply not followed. Fathers, this is eventually going to come back and bite you.

Let's look at several reports. A blog post recounting a 2012 visit by Prof Jordan of the Fellowship of St Alban in Rochester, NY, to Bartus's group in Orange County concludes,

We had a very pleasant "coffee hour" after the service, although it was more than an hour, and no coffee was in sight. That was perfectly fine with me however, since the wine offered was more fitting for the occasion, and since we were after all in southern California, it was hot.

This would seem to be confirmation of another report I'd received that "coffee hour" at the group is regarded as "wine hour" there, but it also raises the troubling question of whether non-alcoholic alternatives are in fact offered, and what the children and toddlers get at the party.

Announcements of events connected with Fr Bartus seem to include references to wine with some frequency, for instance, this "Attorney Wine & Cheese Social" in which members of the St Thomas More Society of Orange County, a group of Catholic lawyers, are invited to schmooze over good-quality wine with none other than Fr Bartus. (If these are in fact Catholic attorneys, they have presumably completed their sacraments of initiation and are not eligible to become members of an Ordinariate group. So much for outreach.)

Just this past Advent, Bartus conducted an "In Office Retreat" at the Busch offices oratory, followed by a "Wine and Cheese Reception in the Wine Cellar". I'd love to work in that office! Once I worked for a senior vice president who had an office closet full of Johnnie Walker Black for special occasions, but they were never special enough to include me.

Next we have a somewhat worrisome announcement from the Camp El Camino at Santiago Retreat Center, which appears to be located near the boys' secondary school were Bartus has his day job:

Thursday night Young Adult Catholics at Work OC welcomes Fr. Andrew Bartus and 434 Ministries to The Studio for a special preview of their evangelization outreach to young adults in North Orange County.

Come on out and tour and bless the newly expanded and Anaheim Studios, enjoy
Good food
GREAT wine
Better Company

Outreach to young adults with great wine. Is anyone checking IDs?

In fact, as a Virtus alum, the whole idea of making contact with priests a wine and cheese party for teens is starting to bother me more than a little. But leaving that aside, the overall tone of all; these announcements suggests that drinking wine is part of being good, sophisticated company -- a violation of the sensible Episcopal policy above, which prohibits "embarrassment, discomfort, or inconvenience" or making consumption a "social requirement" for those who choose not to imbibe.

Fathers, this is eventually going to come back and bite you.