The archbishop is against both changes.
He writes that Minnesota shouldn't have to change who she is (or her policies) just for some guests. He also argues that Sunday is a day dedicated to the Lord and should be set apart, even if its something as simple as closed liquor stores.
"Please don't get me wrong," he wrote. "I like to have a cocktail before dinner and a glass of wine while dining with friends. But somehow I see the camel's nose coming under the tent."
If someone can drink until 4 a.m., why not leave the bars open until 6 a.m. to accommodate the late-shifters? Why do it just during the convention? Why close them at all? And why would we open the liquor stores for the out-of-towners, but leave them closed the other Sundays?
"[Limiting public consumption of alcohol and closing liquor stores on Sundays are] part of the cultural heritage we wish to maintain in this state of Minnesota," he wrote. "We are pleased to have our visitors with us, and we do want them to know they are welcome. But we also want them to believe that, when they go home, they have met a people who embody in their culture a respect for values that transcend themselves."
The archbishop's not saying that drinking on Sunday is wrong. He's saying that by retaining these limits on alcohol purchase, Minnesota helps its citizens practice moderation in some way.
My friends and I cap every weekend with a big Sunday night meal, and I admit, I've been known to go into a 6 p.m. Sunday rant about Minnesota liquor laws when I've been cooking pasta and suddenly realize I'm out of wine to serve with it.
But it's also a reminder that Sunday is a special day set apart, and that's why we're sharing that meal in the first place.
And, if you're curious about what MN's laws currently are and how they came to be, City Pages has a (somewhat irreverent) FAQ for MN liquor laws.
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