It is high time for the Catholic Church to reconsider its indefensible and cruel attacks on alcoholism.
St. Paul
The Catechism of the Catholic Church disparages “excess” drinking as contrary to the virtue of temperance. The Old Testament makes drinking the occasion for incest and violence (Genesis 19:33–35; Sirach 31:29–31). St. Paul labels alcoholics “drunkards,” equivalent to “thieves” and “extortioners” who are damned to Hell (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).
This rampant bibophobia, or prejudice towards drunkards, has to end.
Born That Way
First, the Church’s uninformed censure of alcoholism is out of step with contemporary science. There is now significant evidence to show that alcoholism is a genetically based condition. Although environment may influence the development of alcoholism, “genetic factors play more of a role,” says Gene Erwin, professor of pharmaceutic sciences at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy. And according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, children of alcoholics are four times more likely to be alcoholics than non-alcoholics.
In other words, God made certain people to be alcoholics. Instead of condemning alcoholics as suffering from a “disorder,” the Church should embrace the message of Psalm 139:14: “I praise You, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works! My very self You know.”
The Church needs to tell the alcoholic: “That you are alcoholic does not matter. God made you like that, and He loves you like that, and we do not care. We want you like that. You have to be happy with who you are.”
The Church’s denunciation, borne of hateful myths about alcoholism being a moral failing, is simply outdated. Former Stanford University professor John Wallace captures the heart of the matter: “[R]ecent research on genetics and brain chemistry serves to remind us that alcoholics have been stigmatized too long as people of weak will, flawed character and low morals.”
Made in the Image of … Me
Second, we can no longer pretend alcoholism is just about the physical act of drinking — a secondary trait or exterior characteristic that can be dismissed or ignored. Unlike the authors of Scripture or the Church Fathers, we now have information confirming alcoholism is central to the very identity of alcoholics — it is who they are. Hanna Pickard, a professor of bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, insists addicts self-identify as addicts “because this self-identification is of value.”
Pickard continues, “It can provide a positive sense of self and a community of rich and complicated relationships — never mind a set of daily routines and structure. Without this self-identification, addicts may not know who they would be.”
So, to ask alcoholics to stop drinking is to ask them to give up their very selves.
Show Me Where in the Bible …
Third, there is no persuasive biblical basis for condemning alcoholism. Neither Jesus Himself nor the gospel writers ever expressly condemned alcoholism. Luke 21:34 is not to the contrary. That oblique passage urges vigilance regarding Christ’s second coming and mentions “drunkenness” in passing. But the main point of that passage is about alertness and possible distractions when the Kingdom of God comes. That passage mentions the “anxieties of life” as possible distractions, as well. But Jesus is no more condemning “drunkenness” than He is condemning raising a family or having an occupation. He is warning against distractions and anxieties that undermine one’s preparedness for the trials and tribulations to come, not drinking per se. It would be mere proof-texting to read into Christ’s words any absolute condemnation of alcoholism.
John the Baptist
Indeed, Jesus Himself was accused of being a drunkard, and He never said anything to distance Himself from that accusation. In Matthew 11:16–19, Jesus notes there is “no pleasing” this generation, which decries John the Baptist for his asceticism and yet criticizes the Son of Man as “a glutton and a drunkard.” Christ’s reply to this accusation is cryptic: “But wisdom is vindicated by her works.” He never expressly disclaims this accusation.
And at the wedding at Cana, after the guests had “drunk freely,” Jesus turned 120 to 180 gallons of water into wine (John 2:1–10). The idea that by doing so Jesus was not knowingly contributing to excessive drinking is simply not credible.
All the spiteful and malicious attacks on drunkenness or excessive drinking appear in either the Old Testament or St. Paul. For example, Proverbs 23:21 peddles the stereotype that “drunkards … come to poverty.” Sirach 18:33 –19:1 touts the same canard.
This myth has been refuted by contemporary studies showing wealthy people drink more alcohol than poor people. Equally misinformed, St. Paul rashly groups those subject to “drinking bouts” with practitioners of idolatry, sorcery and orgies — all of whom “will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:20–21). In the 21st century, are we really to be bound to this culturally conditioned language, not to mention the archaic references to Hell?
Neither the Old Testament nor St. Paul has the authority of Christ Himself or the Gospels. Just as contemporary Catholics have jettisoned Old Testament dietary and usury laws and St. Paul’s sexist views of marriage, they should also be liberated from the archaic and insensitive condemnations of alcoholism from these two sources.
Accompany Me on My Journey
To deny alcoholics the fulfillment of their identity by asking them to abstain from drinking for a lifetime or convert to a non-alcoholic lifestyle creates risks of depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidal ideation, stress, disappointment and self-blame.
One respected study puts the Alcoholics Anonymous cure rate at approximately 5%. Can there be any doubt that the life expectancy of alcoholics — approximately eight years less than non-alcoholics — would increase if Catholics would celebrate alcoholics for who they are and accompany them on their journey without judgment or derision? Catholics who continue to insist on abstinence for alcoholics have blood on their hands!
The number of alcoholics in the United States is not negligible — some estimate as high as 6% to 7% of the population. Alcoholics are our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We must acknowledge there are a diversity of forms for relating to our fallen world. We must acknowledge the positive aspects of alcoholism and that alcoholics have gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community. The savage campaign the Catholic Church has waged against the millions of alcoholics has to end.