Pat Robertson says Alzheimer's makes divorce OK

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson told his "700 Club" viewers that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer's is justifiable because the disease is "a kind of death."

During the portion of the show where the one-time Republican presidential candidate takes questions from viewers, Robertson was asked what advice a man should give to a friend who began seeing another woman after his wife started suffering from the incurable neurological disorder.

"I know it sounds cruel, but if he's going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her," Robertson said.

The chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, which airs the "700 Club," said he wouldn't "put a guilt trip" on anyone who divorces a spouse who suffers from the illness, but added, "Get some ethicist besides me to give you the answer."

Most Christian denominations at least discourage divorce, citing Jesus' words in the Gospel of Mark that equate divorce and remarriage with adultery.

Terry Meeuwsen, Robertson's co-host, asked him about couples' marriage vows to take care of each other "for better or for worse" and "in sickness and in health."

"If you respect that vow, you say 'til death do us part,'" Robertson said during the Tuesday broadcast. "This is a kind of death."

A network spokesman said Wednesday that Robertson had no further statement.

Divorce is uncommon among couples where one partner is suffering from Alzheimer's, said Beth Kallmyer, director of constituent services for the Alzheimer's Association, which provides resources to sufferers and their families.

"We don't hear a lot of people saying 'I'm going to get divorced,'" she told The Associated Press. "Families typically respond the way they do to any other fatal disease."

The stress can be significant in marriages though, Kallmyer said, because it results in the gradual loss of a person's mental faculties.

"The caregiving can be really stressful on a couple of levels," she said. "There's the physical level. There's also the emotional level of feeling like you're losing that person you love."

As a result, she said, it's important for couples to make decisions about care together in the early stages of the illness, when its effects aren't as prominent.

Never been a fan or follower of Pat Robertson. I understand that Alzheimers sufferers can live on for years in a near vegetable state but nontheless, if it were truly considered a "kind of death" then divorce would not even be necessary, just as it is not necessary when one truly dies. The VOW was and is "in sickness and in health". I have heard also of people divorcing their spouses because the spouse came down with cancer and the healthy spouse did not want to stick around. Selfish. I think when you love someone genuinely, you stick around to the end. That person needs you more than ever before.

Jesus said, "Whosoever divorceth his wife and marries another committeth adultery." Period.

Adultery.

Yea, I just figure Pat was looking for some attention again. It's really sad he claims to be a Christian, it make us all look bad, but he does not have any patent on making good Christians look bad.

Where do we get to love when it only works for us?

I am glad Jesus loves His bide with a everlasting love!

We are to love our brides to the point of OUR OWN death just like Him.

That gives us a peek into Pats heart and his view of the love of his god (which in my opinion is of his own making). Love in Pats heart and mind is selfish, self serving and will leave and forsake you.

KrispyKrittr
Just be glad you're not Pat's wife! What kind of message is that sending to her?
Krispy

It's sending this message, Honey you better never get Alzheimer's or I am outa here.

I guess we all as Christians have to ask our ourselves, what kind of people is supporting this guys Ministry? has to be the ACLU.

More like, Honey your memory is starting to get shotty probably Alzheimer's, Oh and could you sign these papers.

I remember when my aunt had Muscular Dytrophy which is basically your bodies muscular system shut down and wastes away eventually moving into the organs and brain. I don't know what its like being married to someone impaired but my uncle abandoned my aunt when she started getting really bad and really hard to take care of. He started dating another girl and so was very selfish, She past away. But I feel if my wife was in the same state I wouldn't be able to simply bail on her, one I love her and two she would stay for me.

"Just be glad you're not Pat's wife! What kind of message is that sending to her?"

Or, what if he were to get Alzheimer's? I suppose he would be delighted if she were to divorce him once he shows signs of it?

I do feel sorry for his wife - that she has such a spineless husband.

These are the times in your marriage when you either shine the brightest or you give up. Yes, divorce is giving up because you don't want to suffer and die.

When your spouse is having serious troubles is exactly the time to dig in, embrace the cross and display the fruit you have always talked about.

And what is wrong with death Mr. Robertson? The death of self!!

Where is the willingness to lay down our lives?

In Christ,
Sarah

Too bad for him but he's strong enough to face such situation as that.

In my own views, you should be with your significant other until the very end. I mean if you really cared for that person and married them it seems to be the right thing to do.

Alzheimer's patients need love during their last days. But according to Rev. Pat Robertson, chair of the Christian Broadcasting Network, it's completely fine to break up a spouse who has the illness. He went on to say he wouldn't “put a guilt trip” on the non-Alzheimer's partner, because the disease is “a kind of death”. [url=http://www.newsytype.com/11406-pat-robertson-alzheimers-divorce/]Pat Robertson says divorcing Alzheimer’s patient is OK[/url] but I disagree with him. You should be with your significant other until the very end. I mean if you really cared for that person and married them it seems to be the right thing to do.When being cared for by a spouse, the love of that spouse is often what enables a person with Alzheimer’s disease to continue on and not feel abandoned. Inevitably, relationships involving the Alzheimer’s patient will be strained, as the demands of care can tax the best caregivers. In the event that the caregiver is a spouse, the loss of intimacy and romance can be difficult to overcome. However, with new technologies for early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in development, there is hope, however small. That alone may be enough to help sufferers and their caregivers hold on and block out the bleating, hypocritical televangelists.

"Christianity Today" has a wonderful article detailing why Robertson's stance on divorcing an Alzheimers' afflicted spouse is so dreadfully wrong. Here is the link:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/septemberweb-only/robertson-alzheimers-divorce.html?start=1