Sheriff: County Jail Will Allow Wine

After being barred from the Charleston County jail earlier this week, a Summerville priest, will again be allowed to consume alcohol while conducting jailhouse religious services.

For now at least.

Monsignor Ed Lofton has for 15 years consumed a small amount of wine while he conducts services at the jail, according to a Post and Courier story. Last week, however, a jail administrator told him the wine was contraband and a security hazard and that he must consume grape juice instead.

On Thursday, Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon told reporters the jail will again allow Monsignor Lofton to consume wine for now as his department examines its policy on the matter.

The wine is not consumed by inmates. Only Lofton partakes.

The priest, who ministers to St. Theresa the Little Flower Catholic Church in Summerville, had threatened to sue, claiming that not allowing wine violated his First Amendment rights to religious expression.