My second husband and his family were Catholics'. Every year for lent, my husbands dad gave up alcohol (whiskey) but would drink beer and would go to church everyday. His mom gave up icecream, but would eat icemilk.
Then on Easter Sunday they'd have a BIG hoohaw,shindig.......everyone drinking and getting really drunk.
It never bothered me, I just thought it was interesting.
Oh I just remembered this too..The dad, stole a huge cross from the church kept it on their piano...he would put his lottery tickets under the cross every week. He never hit big, a few bucks here and there.
lisa