Her Husband Is an Addict
Her Husband Is an Addict
Question
I know a woman who has been married for three years, and her husband has become addicted to narcotic drugs of various kinds. This has led to the loss of half of his material wealth and has affected her life as his wife. She is now separated from him and living in another house. She wants to separate from him by divorce. What is the Church’s opinion?
Answer
First: The Church does not permit divorce because of drug addiction, for the teaching of the Scriptures is clear that there is no divorce except on the ground of adultery.
Second: We advise this wife to admit her husband to one of the treatment centers that work in the rehabilitation of addicts, of which there are many. We have one that belongs to the Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical, and Social Services.
Such a husband may be regarded as a sick person who needs treatment.
Third: Why did the wife endure this situation for all that time until the drugs gained control over him and until he lost half of his material wealth? What was the reason? What was the turning point in his life? In any case, the opportunity for his treatment is still available…
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