By now you've probably heard the advice Pat Robertson gave to a man who asked about his obligation to a wife with Alzheimer's:
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….
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."
Here's an alternative view from Robert McQuilken, a man who resigned as president of Columbia Bible College and Seminary to care for his wife who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
You can read more about McQuilken's story here.
[HT: Justin Taylor]
What a blessed man. Don't know a thing about him...except that he is a true man. He has shown that what God has commanded matters. Robertson...on the other hand... represents all that is false and corrupt in the modern "church".
Posted by: vic | September 17, 2011 at 10:20 AM
I agree with Vic's comment that Mr. McQuilken is indeed a true man!
As for Robertson, I wish he would stay silent. He's the only representation of Christianity that some people see, and he's often an embarrassment.
Posted by: Mo | September 17, 2011 at 01:15 PM
Pat Robertson was responding to question that began
Robert McQuilken (a wonderful man as far as I can tell) said his wife seemed to be "almost happy when with me and almost never happy when not with me".
Posted by: RonH | September 17, 2011 at 05:11 PM
(sigh)
(with apologies to the STR community)
Please, RonH, by all means, don't keep us in suspense. Remove the shroud and share with us your point?
Posted by: Hunayn ibn Ishaq | September 18, 2011 at 05:33 AM
Hunayn ibn Ishaq,
I saw your comment.
Posted by: RonH | September 18, 2011 at 10:02 AM
RonH,
I too would like to understand what point you were trying to make with your first post. Thanks.
Posted by: Deedub | September 18, 2011 at 06:31 PM
From what RonH quoted, the point seems to be focusing on the difference between the two situations. One wife doesn't even recognize him anymore[Robertsons case], and the man in the video is saying that his wife seems to recognize when he's near by display of "almost happy". Other than just noting it, I wouldn't want to say what RonH is making of this distinction because I just dont know.
Posted by: Brad B | September 18, 2011 at 08:45 PM
I'm sure his point is that it's ok in the Robertson example because that wife no longer recognizes her husband, while in the other example, she is still capable of responding to some extent.
That's ridiculous, of course, since married people are commanded to love their spouses whether or not that love can be reciprocated.
Instead of openly making that argument, RonH simply posts the comparison. Why doesn't he actually make the argument? I would guess because he knows it doesn't hold water.
Posted by: Mo | September 18, 2011 at 09:45 PM
He doesn't make the argument because he has none. Its hard being the bad boy every now and then.
Posted by: vic | September 19, 2011 at 06:01 AM
Why does anyone in the Christian community take Robertson seriously anymore? Please stop sending him money!
Posted by: MikeR. | September 19, 2011 at 08:17 AM
Unfortunately, Pat Robertson's response reflects how lightly we take our promises, pledges, and oaths. For a Christian, it also reflects how lightly we take God. If we make a pledge before the Creator of the universe; the redeemer and judge - then why do we work so hard to justify our unwillingness to fulfill our promises to one another? Why do so many walk away so easily?
The Church gives RonH plenty of reason to think that it's really more of a social club. How different are we really? Does our fruit smell any sweeter? Is it any more abundant?
Posted by: Brian | September 19, 2011 at 08:40 AM
Wow. God Bless that man.
Pat might want to think about retirement.
Posted by: Damian | September 19, 2011 at 02:20 PM
What amazes me is this: we are called to keep our vows (Matt. 5:37).
That's what makes marriage so important -- that we will not be left alone by our spouses or abandoned in our greatest time of need. Jesus had some harsh words for those who divorced for any reason.
Robertson should, echoing the previous comment, retire.
Posted by: Cory C | September 19, 2011 at 04:30 PM