Till Alzheimer Do us Part?
Televangelist Pat Robertson sent shock waves among the Christian faithful by commenting during the Christian Broadcasting Network's 700 club program that divorcing your Alzheimer-ravaged spouse to hook up with someone else is perfectly OK with him. Reports the LA Times that Robertson's comments came in response to a caller who said that a friend had begun dating other women while his wife lies seriously ill with Alzheimer's, and justifies it by saying that "his wife, as he knows her, is gone." The story notes:
Robertson said he agrees with the man: "What he says basically is correct. 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."
His co-host pressed Robertson about whether that violates the marriage vows. Robertson responded that Alzheimer's "is a kind of death" and added, "I certainly wouldn't put a guilt trip on you" for choosing divorce in such a scenario.
Geez! And the godless, selfishness-preaching Ayn Rand is the moral monster? I don't know if Robertson himself has Alzheimer's, but he certainly seems to lost his mind. (Actually, I take that back; that assumes he had one.)