Alcoholism

[Andruschak]

I need some clarification concerning the Church’s stand on alcoholism. Over in catechismclass.com we had a discusion on THOU SHALT NOT KILL. This seems to include things like drunkeness and drug abuse.

But when alcohol abuse crosses the line to alcoholism, then what? In my 22 years of sobriety in AA, I have had some talks with Priests who are in the program. Given the fact that most medical groups now regard alcoholism as a disease, not a moral failing of willpower, the Priests mentioned that alcoholics are no longer required to give some sort of pledge to become “Reformed” alcoholics. Instead they get the Anointing of the Sick.

As an RCIA Candidate, I have a huge first confession to dump on some poor Priest. My concern is that my alcoholism led to other sins I have to confess and answer for. Clarification on the Church’s doctrine concerning alcoholism, both those recovered and those still drinking, would be appreciated.

 

[estesbob]

I need some clarification concerning the Church’s stand on alcoholism. Over in catechismclass.com we had a discusion on THOU SHALT NOT KILL. This seems to include things like drunkeness and drug abuse.

But when alcohol abuse crosses the line to alcoholism, then what? In my 22 years of sobriety in AA, I have had some talks with Priests who are in the program. Given the fact that most medical groups now regard alcoholism as a disease, not a moral failing of willpower, the Priests mentioned that alcoholics are no longer required to give some sort of pledge to become “Reformed” alcoholics. Instead they get the Anointing of the Sick.

As an RCIA Candidate, I have a huge first confession to dump on some poor Priest. My concern is that my alcoholism led to other sins I have to confess and answer for. Clarification on the Church’s doctrine concerning alcoholism, both those recovered and those still drinking, would be appreciated.

I will have 21 years sobriety in two weeks so its been a while since my forst cpnfession after sobering up BUT when I made that confession i did not give my alchoholism as an excuse for my sins-just as an explantion of why I acted the way I did. I dont hink alchoholism itself is a sin-but it also does not excuse sinful behavior we engage in while under the infulence.

BTW-In you first cnfession you dont have to mention every sin you commited in the past-just hit the high points.

 

[Andruschak]

I will have 21 years sobriety in two weeks so its been a while since my forst cpnfession after sobering up BUT when I made that confession i did not give my alchoholism as an excuse for my sins-just as an explantion of why I acted the way I did. I dont hink alchoholism itself is a sin-but it also does not excuse sinful behavior we engage in while under the infulence.

BTW-In you first cnfession you dont have to mention every sin you commited in the past-just hit the high points.

Thank you for your response, I 'll keep your comments in mind.

 

[Dale_M]

Clarification on the Church’s doctrine concerning alcoholism, both those recovered and those still drinking, would be appreciated.

I can’t begin to answer your question, but as a spur to further discussion, I would point to section 2290 and 2291 of the Catechism

The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others' safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.

2291
The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense

I think the key phrase is “very grave damage on human health and life”. Alcoholism, like drug addiction, is life threatening and does serious health damage. So we can not simply ignore it or belittle its seriousness.

 

[LeahInancsi]

I never accepted my father’s acoholism as an excuse for the effect it had on my life. He was an adult, he knew right from wrong when he was sober and he knew that drinking was wrong and his neglect of his responsibilities was wrong. Because he knew these things were wrong when sober, he had control over whether or not he took that next drink.

I am sypathetic to the pain that attracked him to alcohol. I suffer from a similar pain as a result of his neglect. However, I didn’t turn to drugs or alcohol.

I realize that certain people are predisposed to develop alcoholism when alcohol is abused. It doesn’t diminish the fact that a very intelligent, well-educated man cannot make the effort (and succeed) to take control of his life until it’s too late.

**Alcohol is not an excuse. ** :nope:

 

[Sam88]

Alcoholism is just one example of a more general problem. In different ways, different people experience certain weaknesses that predispose them to particular sins – things we find hard to control or resist, even though others may not even experience them as a temptation. So some find it extremely hard to resist excessive alchohol, others are easily tempted by gluttony, lust, gossip, etc. All of these are particular examples of what is traditionally referred to as concupiscence - a weakness or tendency to sin which is an effect of Original Sin.

I suspect that most people who seriously attempt to resist sin find that certain sins are easy to avoid - in fact some do not tempt me at all, while others seem almost automatic and nearly irresistible. Certain sexual sins for example disgust rather than attract me, so it doesn’t seem to take any effort at all on my part to resist them. Other sins feel as natural as breathing. (They are not, and the fact that they feel that way to me is a disorder, just as alcoholism is a disorder.)

In some cases, weaknesses may even reduce the culpability for sin (degree of guilt), but they do not remove it altogether since concupiscence is never so strong as to entirely eliminate free will.

I think that we are all Sinaholics, but that this takes different forms in different people, one of which may be Alcoholism.

 

[wcknight]

The thing about alcohol is that it makes us even more susceptible to other sins that may even be worse for us. By lowering our normal inhibitions we are more easily tempted to ignore our values.

This is why many folks are more likely to cheat on their spouse while intoxicated or while under the influence. And driving while under the influence is just plain irresponsible and stupid. There are not many good things that happen while under the influence.

Trying to get away from our problems through drinking only makes us more open to even bigger problems.