EUR: Priest blames Holy Wine for drink-driving
28 Jun 2009 4:32 PM
ROME, June 27 AFP - An Italian priest caught driving over the alcohol limit told police it was only because of the holy wine he had drunk at mass, Ansa news agency reported on Saturday.
Police rejected the priest's excuse and revoked his driving licence anyway.
Now the 41-year-old priest is set to appeal, saying his alcohol consumption was not "voluntary" since it was part of the Catholic ritual in the four masses that he had celebrated during the day.
He was caught coming off the Milan-Turin motorway with a blood alcohol content of 0.8 grams per litre - above the authorised limit in Italy of 0.5 grams.
