Introducing an all NEW Feature on "North of the Clerical Collar"

"Baptism and Happy Hour Do NOT Mix"

Our History Lesson for Today:

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In 13th century Norway there was something of a crisis brewing.  For some reason or other there was very little water available and many were fearful that they would run out altogether.  It seems, however, that what these Norwegians lacked in water they more than made up for in beer.  Barrel upon barrel of the stuff seemed to be everywhere – so much so that the local clergy promptly decided to put this surplus supply of suds to work for the Kingdom of God.

“Water is scarce,” they reasoned.  “Beer is not….  Why not baptize people with beer?”

Amazingly this thickheaded idea caught on and the practice spread from one parish to another until eventually Pope Gregory IX  caught wind of these brown bottle baptisms.  He found them difficult to swallow.  What followed was a spirited letter to the Archbishop of Trondhjem.  The letter was less than friendly, in fact it was a cold one.  In it Gregory stated his belief that baptism by brewski was baseless and therefore any such alcoholic ablutions were not authentic.

 To quote from Gregory IX’s letter:

 “Since according to the Gospel teaching, a man must be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, those are not to be considered validly baptized who have been baptized with beer.”

Thus the laver and the lager were forever separated.  Even today Pope Gregory IX’s edict is observed by both Roman Catholics and Protestants with a good deal of sobriety. 

Look for more installments of 100% True History From The Annals of the Church to be posted periodically.