QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON CLUBBING, BARS, DRINKING, AND THE APOSTOLIC CANONS
By Bp. Joseph and an Anonymous Spiritual Son ( Ancient Church of the West ) Question: What do we think about clubbing? I remember you telling someone “No clubbing.” Someone is asking me to go. I’ve already said yes, but I can still cancel. Answer: St. John Chrysostom’s statement, “Where dance is, there is the devil,” was speaking specifically about the more erotic forms of dancing that were commonly accompanied by drinking and debauchery in his day. The ancient canons are also quite strict: Apostolic Canon 42 "If a bishop, presbyter, or deacon gives himself to gambling, dancing, or drunkenness, let him either cease or be deposed." Apostolic Canon 43 "If a subdeacon, reader, or singer does the same, let him either cease or be excommunicated. The same principle applies to laymen." Apostolic Canon 54 "If any cleric is found eating in a public drinking house, except from necessity while traveling where there are no other options, let him be excommunicated." Th...
