THE TABLET SEPTEMBER 23, 2006
Recovery Sunday and Family Day

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

One of the problems afflicting our society is our penchant for addictions.  We are addicted to all kinds of things.  Perhaps it is the result of the materialist society in which we have too much and in which we can indulge in the things we think bring us pleasure.  September marks the 17th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.  The aim of the Recovery Month is to promote the message that recovery from alcohol and substance abuse addiction, in all its forms, is possible.  These two addictions affect almost every family in our nation.

During my parish visits many have expressed concerns regarding the negative impact of alcohol and substance abuse on family life.  In order to address this critical need facing families, as I mentioned in my pastoral letter entitled, “The Family: the Hope of the New Evangelization,” I requested Catholic Charities and the diocesan Program for the Development of Human Potential (PDHP) to collaborate in developing the Diocesan Alcohol/Substance Abuse Assistance Program.  By creating a network of reputable service providers from all over the city, this new initiative will offer ongoing support to individuals and families directly affected by alcohol and substance abuse, and holistically address issues of awareness, prevention, assessment, treatment and aftercare.

In order to access this network of services, a new “hotline” number has been created: 1-800-659-1603.  I urge those suffering from addiction to call this number.  You will receive the help you need to deal with your own addiction or that of someone in your family.  Addiction is an illness.  It is not a bad habit or a sign of weakness.  It is a treatable illness that, when gone untreated, can kill people and destroy families.

I have designated in the Diocese of Brooklyn Sept. 24 as Recovery Sunday and Sept. 25 as Family Day, respectively.  We will be united with two national events aimed at promoting the importance of recovery efforts:  Recovery Sunday, a special day of prayer for those in recovery from addictive illnesses, and Family Day, when families are encouraged to share a meal together as a helpful deterrent to destructive behavior.

Recovery Sunday marks the annual day of prayer for all those struggling with, and recovering from, addictive illnesses.  Those who are in recovery are some of the strongest members of our parish communities.  They understand the problem firsthand and are more than willing to reach out to others.  It is my hope that someday we can develop a parish-based addiction intervention program where those in recovery can assist those who wish to escape from these addictions. 

Addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling and certain relationships are among those that require treatment and our prayers.  The consequences of these untreated illnesses affect us in all areas of our lives.  Although Recovery Sunday seeks to help individuals and families who struggle particularly with the illness of addiction, we hope that the prayers offered on this day will assist us in all our recovery needs.  “Some healing takes more… It takes prayer” (Mark 9:28-19).  Please join us in prayer this Sunday.

Monday, Sept. 25, is designated as Family Day, when families are encouraged to take the time to share a meal together, communicate with one another, and perhaps do something together that they normally do not do.  Research shows that children who regularly eat together with their families are more likely to communicate and are less likely to smoke, drink or use drugs.

We need to focus our attention on prayer and strengthening the family.  Last Saturday we had our second evangelization convocation, aimed at understanding better how the family can be the principal means of evangelization. One of the drawbacks is that addictions afflict us in so many ways.  There are more deaths and disabilities each year in the U.S. from addictive illnesses than from any other cause.    

Almost 50 percent of all Americans have a family history of addictive illnesses.  Nine million children in America live with at least one parent who is suffering from addiction.  These children need special support that can only be received from outside their families, unfortunately.  It is estimated that 18 million in America struggle with alcoholism, six million struggle with other drugs, and six million struggle with addiction to gambling.  The list of addictions can go on and on.  It could be a male’s addiction to Monday night football, or endless shopping that some say is a special feminine addiction.  We can be addicted to anything that takes away our freedom.

Again unfortunately, 50 pecent of all traffic accidents are related to addiction of some form; 64 percent of people who die in fires have blood alcohol levels that indicate intoxication.  The cost of addictive illnesses on the American economy is estimated to be $276 billion per year.  When we look at this in lost work productivity, health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes, and other adverse consequences, these figures become credible.

Yes, to break the cycle of addiction in our society we will need to put out into the deep in ways in which we do not feel comfortable.  Join me in prayer and in our diocesan efforts to make a difference when it comes to the addictions that surround us, that we might break their hold upon us.