PROVIDENCE - Sacramental wine has become the unlikely topic of heated debate at the State House.
Proposed legislation that would allow church supply stores in Rhode Island to sell altar wine for sacramental purposes only to any ordained priest, minister, rabbi or to any church or religious society, has caused representatives of the retail liquor industry to become vocal in their opposition to what they fear will create a new wave of competition if additional liquor licenses are issued.
Many diocesan priests say they would like to purchase sacramental wine from a local church supply store, where they already purchase other goods such as candles, incense and vestments.
"It would be advantageous to local parishes to be served by a local church supply store with whom they also do church business," said Father Joseph D. Creedon, pastor of Christ the King Church, Kingston.
Father Bernard A. Healey, diocesan Government Liaison agreed, noting that the few retail liquor stores that do carry sacramental wine often have none in stock, or have limited supplies offering few choices.
The bill, H5707, was introduced Feb. 28 by Rep. John Patrick Shanley (D-So. Kingstown), and was referred to the House Corporation Committee, which heard testimony on March 28.
After much debate, the bill was held for further study, and according to Shanley, should be voted on within several weeks.
"The debate comes largely from the holders of class A license holders," Shanley said, referring to retail liquor stores. "They have a propensity to be very concerned about any innovation that would allow any additional licenses."
Shanley, a member of Christ the King, said the special license he's proposing would cost $50 annually, while a regular Class-A retail license costs $200. Massachusetts and Connecticut currently allow church supply stores to sell sacramental wines.
Shanleysaid in a telephone interview that he introduced the bill after speaking to P. J. Tally, a fellow parishioner and owner of Tally's Church Supplies and Furnishings in Cranston.
Tally said if the bill passes, he will apply for a license. Although church supply stores in other states can purchase wine directly from the handful of American vineyards that produce sacramental wine, similar stores in Rhode Island - because of state laws - will have to purchase the products from a wholesale liquor distributor, the same way a liquor store obtains its stock. Tally added that in Massachusetts only two church supply stores have obtained special licenses, and he believes that his store will be the only one in Rhode Island to apply for a permit.
"There is clearly a need for this type of license. Rhode Island churches and synagogues need to be able to purchase sacramental wine, and this solution will allow them to do it more easily and locally," Shanley said.
Rhode Island state law prohibits wine from being shipped into the state by delivery services such as UPS and Fed Ex. Sacramental wine is tax exempt.
When Egan's Church Supply closed its Somerset, MA branch last year, many diocesan priests opted to purchase the wine in bulk from the company's Milbury, MA store and split the shipment according to their parish needs.
Tom Saccoccia, owner of Sak's Centredale Liquors and Wine Cellar in North Providence, and a director of the United Independent Liquor Retailers Association, testified in opposition to the proposed legislation at the State House hearing.
"Our concern is about the establishment of a new class of liquor store licenses," he said, adding that the organization represents about 260 liquor stores in the state.
"Our industry is very restricted," he emphasized, noting that under current state law, liquor stores can only sell alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets. He said the liquor store owners have successfully fought back attempts by supermarkets and convenience stores to sell alcoholic beverages.
Saccoccia said that while he knows of 15 liquor stores currently selling sacramental wine in the state, any retail liquor establishment can sell the product and will do so if t requested by a priest or other clergyman.
"I have been selling sacramental wines to religious organizations for years," said John Quinn in a telephone interview Monday. The owner of U Save Liquors in Woonsocket, Quinn said, "I have no problem meeting the needs of churches," noting that sacramental wines can be custom-ordered if a preferred brand is not in stock.
The proposed House bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Donald J. Lally Jr. (D - South Kingstown, Narragansett), Arthur J. Corvese (D-North Providence), Gregory J. Shaldone (D-North Providence) and Stephen R. Ucci (D-Johnston, Cranston.
(This article originally appeared in The Providence Visitor)
