If You Dance, You Gotta Pay the Piper

A number of years ago, I was part of a team presentation on addiction at a school of theology. Curiously, there was a small group of men who strongly resisted the fact that alcoholism was indeed an illness. This despite the fact that a number of medical and health organizations had proclaimed alcoholism a disease as far back as 1954. Furthermore, there is currently some very compelling evidence to substantiate this, especially since the advent of research into the neurobiology of addiction.

After the formal presentation, I had an opportunity to talk with these theology students. It seems that they were all involved, in their previous lives, in criminal justice or law enforcement, as federal prosecutors or drug enforcement agents. As we spoke, they expressed how this reliance on alcohol and other drug addiction disease model by people who had broken the law, resulted in charges being dismissed and no consequences being paid.

They danced, and in many instances, didn’t pay the piper.

Citing alcoholism as a problem for other behaviors has recently become a very hot topic. Obviously in my position, my opinion has been sought. I would like to share a few thoughts and hopefully clarify some misgivings about “deviant or criminal” behavior and its connection to addiction.

I wish first to issue a disclaimer: I am not a moral theologian. When relating to the moral implications of the aforementioned “deviant or criminal” behavior and its connection to addiction, I am not making a judgment as to the “sinfulness” or the “gravity of sinfulness” of such behavior(s). That is left to the Supreme Judge, who has not appointed me to help out on His bench.

I believe that a distinction must be made between moral culpability and personal responsibility for addiction related behavior, whether the addiction is to substances, e.g. alcohol or cocaine, or to processes, e.g. gambling or sex. I was taught in 2nd or 3rd grade, the three requirements for mortal (or serious) sin; 1) Grave matter; 2) Sufficient reflection; and 3) Full consent of the will. Illness can mitigate, totally or in part, these three things.

What I think can place this provocative topic in proper perspective is seeing what 12-Step Programs promote as necessary for spiritual healing when it comes to dealing with the consequences of addiction related behaviors.

All 12-Step Programs stress the need for healing of broken relationships, reconciliation, and paying debts owed. If I owe someone money, because I stole to support a habit, then I must repay that debt once in recovery. If I have injured someone while driving under the influence of alcohol or some other drug, legal or illegal, then I must try to rectify the injury to the person I hurt, possibly spend time in jail, pay a fine, and/or lose my driver’s license. In a more difficult vein, I may have neglected my children in their formative years because I was drunk. I must now in sobriety, at every opportunity, attempt to be present to them as a parent. Some consequences or debts can be simply paid by writing a check. Others may take a lifetime. Even that may be insufficient. We do our best and leave the rest to a merciful God.

12-Step, religious, and spiritual programs all require that we make amends or restitution for the wrongs we have done, being well or ill. Simply, it’s about doing the right thing. Justice, I believe, is what it’s called.

If you dance, you gotta pay the piper.