Topic:  Is alcoholism a sin?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: December 1, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Phillip

Question:   Why do people use alcohol? Who is an alcoholic? What ill-effects does the use of alcohol have on society? I would like this in a paragraph form please and as soon as possible. What are your views or teachings as a Catholic towards alcoholism?

Answer: 

Thanks for your question to www.CatholicQandA.org.

There is no one answer to your question about why people use alcohol. Different people use alcohol for different reasons. Among the reasons could be the following: to be sociable, to escape from stress, to maintain a habit, to be with friends, to be cool, to be accepted…and the list goes on. Some reasons are acceptable, some are foolish, and some are downright dangerous.

I would suggest that you go to the web page for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

There you will find the “Frequently Asked Questions” which give a great deal more information than we can provide here.

As Catholics we understand alcoholism to be a disease which has both genetic and environmental factors involved in its cause and in its being triggered in a particular person.

Alcoholism is NOT a moral failing or sinful per se. The effects of alcoholism on the individual human person who suffers from the disease and on the circle of family and friends of the person who has the disease are often horrific. Some of those effects can be and are sinful.

No more than we would say that a person who has chicken pox or a mental illness or cancer is morally flawed for having those diseases would we say that a person who has the disease of alcoholism is, somehow, morally culpable for having the disease of alcoholism.

As Catholics we have a profound responsibility to advocate for national and societal provision for treatment programs for those who are alcoholic. We must also advocate for support systems for the family and friends of alcoholics.

One of the greatest spiritual movements of the last century is “AA” – Alcoholics Anonymous. This “12 step program” is a tremendous asset that has helped millions of people who have chemical dependencies. As Catholics, I think we have a solemn obligation to support the work of Alcoholics Anonymous. Look at their web site for further insight and information:

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/