In defence of alcoholics
Published 30 March 2011Earlier this year I had the opportunity to listen to a speech given by the head of the Catholic church in Australia.
He spoke for some time about sinners and how many live with the consequences of their sins. And then he referred to alcoholics as falling under the “sinner” category.
Excuse me? Alcoholics are sinners?
I struggled to keep my cool, but I managed to listen enough to hear him say that alcoholics are committing a sin by drinking to excess and that they live with the consequences of their sin with liver disease and brain damage.
Excuse me, alcoholics are sinners?
As someone who grew up with an alcoholic, I believe I have every right to categorise alcoholics in the same basket as sinners. But you know what? They’re NOT sinners.
Alcoholics have poor mental health. They have a disease, if you will. Like I’ve said here before about my own mum, “whether it [alcoholism] was self-induced (addiction) or an existing condition (mental health) is like asking about the chicken or the egg.â€
Understandably, the social and financial impact of alcoholism is huge – the 2008 report “The avoidable costs of alcohol abuse in Australia and the potential beneï¬ts of effective policies to reduce the social costs of alcohol” is actually an interesting read (or maybe it’s just me) and it puts the costs of alcoholism in Australia in the millions of dollars (whether this is an annual amount, I’m not sure – clearly my report-reading skillz aren’t so great).
I would dearly love to rant on for pages and pages about my experiences with an alcoholic and why I disagree with George, but I need to protect my family, who I have hurt already by being so open here about our mum.
But I am torn because I want to dispel the stigma associated with alcoholism. Because a lot of it is wrong and unfair. Alcoholics are many things, but alcoholics are NOT sinners. And someone with such high standing in a religious organisation should know better.
Amen.
9 Responses to In defence of alcoholics
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No, thank YOU
I don’t expect much from Pell.
*sigh*
Thank you for being as open as you are. It has helped some, I know. Even if only a little.
I wouldn’t worry too much about what George Pell says. That man has a VERY warped view of right and wrong.
The way he has handled victims of abuse by the clergy is almost as bad as the abuse itself.
The good news is that I’m fairly certain he is going to burn in he’ll for all eternity.
Argh! Silly self correcting iPhone. I meant hell, not he’ll. Obviously.
As a person who has suffered from alcohol addiction (I’ve been sober now for nearly 5 years) I thank you for your compassionate post.
With every utterance from Cardinal Pell his relevance to our society becomes less and less. So glad I’m not a catholic and have to take his rot seriously.
Pell Shmell! Sorry but really… putting alcoholics in the same category as me. Coz apparently I am a real sinner. And a lose woman…
The sad thing is that there are people listening to him and hanging off every word.
Addiction is a recognised illness and should be accepted as such. But hey, I think celibate men who fiddle with little boys are sinners but some people think they are just misunderstood…
Hugs to you and your family. xxx
Oh, JEEZ. As someone who *also* grew up with an alcoholic parent, how incredibly insensitive and ill-informed. I couldn’t agree with your sentiments more, lovely Rah.
Argh.. people who are ill-informed, naive, fearful and arrogant about certain topics yet publicly ranting about them really annoy me. Especially when they are regarded with high regard.
I’ve lived with addicts, worked with addicts, been an addict myself and have friends who are addicts. We all know someone who has been affected by addiction, whether we are aware of it or not.
I think he can voice his opinion but make sure he repeatedly states, this is MY opinion alone.
I agree regarding the stigma. I believe in speaking out about mental health and AOD issues as much as possible, whenever possible. It is, however, important to keep the feelings of others in mind (as you are being with your mum). I think a simple, but poignant post like this is enough. You are speaking out.
On behalf of someone who has been and continues to be affected by addiction I would like to thank you for not being quiet about this topic.
xxx
I can’t stand Pell. I can’t stand most of the big wigs in any of the major religions, actually. There are two alcoholics in my family; sinners? No. Misguided and in need of help? Yes.
Wow.
Just wow.
This is why I call myself a bad Catholic – sometimes our church leaders are dipshits.
the love slave and I both have family members who are alcoholics, it is an insidious thing to deal with, but certainly not a choice they are making to commit a sin. It’s got nothing to do with morality at all. Sigh.
xx