Infamous fundamentalist church leader, Pat Robertson, were featured on CNN's website recently (through this video clip). In the clip he gave advice to a person asking about a friend whose wife suffers from Alzheimers Disease and who started to see another woman. Roberston's advice to the man was that his wife is dead because of the illness; he may move on with his life but it would be better to divorce his wife first. You can also watch the original video clip HERE.
The other day I visited with an older couple. The husband suffers from Alzheimers. He is in an early stage of the illness, so the visit was quite enjoyable. They spoke openly about the disease. His wife read everything she could get about it and it was obvious that she suffers under the weight of the personality changes and forgetfulness of her husband.
She doesn't plan to leave her husband because of the illness.
I'm wondering ... If it is okay with Robertson to tell this gentleman that he may divorce his wife (perhaps she is in an care institution and he doesn't have to look after her?), then maybe I can advise my friend whose husband is dying from cancer to start searching for her next husband? Her current spouse could even assist her in the process! Or perhaps I should tell the man whose wife suffers from such serious depression that she wants to commit suicide every other week, that he should stock extra sleeping pills in the house?
Nope, Pat, you don't quite understand the Bible.
Perhaps Robertson should have given the guy who started dating another woman the advice to do some soul searching. If it was him to fall ill, wouldn't he expect of his wife of x amount of years to stand by his side in his illness? What did he really feel for her if he can so easily move on with his life?
More importantly, if a Bible teacher says its okay to divorce an ill person, that needs integrity, dignity and support precisely during this time, I shudder to think how the rest of his Biblical interpretation will sound.
I know it is terrible to live with someone who suffers from Alzheimers. Yet I think its worse to emotionally leave your spouse in a time where she cannot decide for herself. If you choose to move on because your partner changed, you have built your relationship on a very superficial footing.
My own emotions flabbergast me.
I'm not normally judgemental. Still, Robertson's advice pushes in my throat. It presses nauseating gulp from my stomach. I think about my mom's sister with Alzheimers and their other sister who sacrificially cares for her.
And I become irrationally angry at people calling themselves ministers of religion that make such idiotic remarks.
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