Communion Wine Banned From Kiwi Prisons

April 20, 2007

Source: Catholic News

http://www.cathnews.com/news/704/103.php

In a restriction described by a New Zealand party leader as "political correctness gone mad", Kiwi prison authorities have banned the taking of communion wine into prison, saying that they have no legal discretion to grant an exemption.

NZ Catholic reports that United Future New Zealand leader Peter Dunne comments come in response to a story in this week's issue of NZ Catholic, outlining enforcement of a ban on alcohol in prisons, even for eucharistic purposes.

In the article, Harry Hawthorn, the head of the Public Prisons Service, confirmed that Communion wine cannot be taken into prisons and said the department has "no discretion" in allowing an exemption to the country's Corrections Act 2004.

The Act prohibits unauthorised items, including "any drug, alcohol, or other intoxicating substance", from being taken into prisons.