Comments

I totally disagree with what Pat Robertson said and I'm shocked that he would give such advice. I know alzheimer's is a horrible disease, but there are other diseases that are horrible as well. Whatever happened to "for better or for worse; in sickness and health"? I believe God honors those who honor their marriage commitment for the life of their spouse in spite of very difficult circumstances. I believe he "fumbled the ball" on this one.

This breaks my heart to hear this horrible advice being given on this Christian program. I think Pat Robertson owes his viewers an apology. There is nothing in the Bible to support his comments, and who knows how many people who were honoring their vows to an ill spouse will now believe they have "permission" to leave and betray their spouse and set a horrendous example for their children and other believers watching. It's time for Pat Robertson to get off the air.

I am disappointed in Mr. Robertson's advice. Of course, he is entitled to his opinion, but I disagree with it. Spouses promise God and each other to remain married despite illness or other adverse circumstances. To say that Alzheimer's Disease is a "kind of death," is a slippery slope. One could use that argument anytime a spouse changes radically; one could say that the spouse they married no longer exists. This could be used in a variety of situations.

Maybe Mr. Robertson should reread the OT Book of Hosea. We are instructed to remain faithful to our spouses in the same way Christ is faithful to his Church and God is faithful to his elect.

I care for my mother in law with end stage Alzheimer's, my mom with mid-stage Alzheimer's and now my Dad has been diagnoised with Parkinson's. I have reached the conclusion, in dealing with my mother in law, that even though she no longer has much language there is much that she relates to in the now. She lives her life in the now and sometimes there is connection with her through her eyes. Sometimes she sheds a tear as if she is trapped within her body. Other times she does not seem to respond, but I have brought her happiness within her "now". I am sad that Pat calls it walking death. But in essence that is what we all are. All of us will one day die. Eternity is what we live for and eternity is impacted by what we do in the now. I would not cast aside my parent or my spouse for temporal happiness. I would choose to live in the now, do all I can to care for them and wait for death to sever any vows. That person is still alive, they still have a soul and if you carry Pat's logic that they are not alive then you open the way for euthanasia genocide.

I have long listened to Pat Robertson. I have 90% of the time agreed with his philosphies. However, this one I will disagree with. Alzheimer's is a disease. It is NOT death. So the vow that we take upon marriage are to care for one another in sickness and in health. My father in law has advanced Alzheimers. He may not know who were are and if feels like he is gone, but he is not dead. Plus, what if God should choose to perform a miracle? I know it is highly unlikely.... but God is bigger than anything imaginable. I'm frustrated by this because it seems like Robertson is advocating the easy way out. Does God give up on the lost? Does the worst sinner still not receive God's promise for eternal life should he choose it? If God looked at me as dead, even though I'm alive, then I'd have been lost a long time ago.

This is completely man-centered rather than Gospel/God-centered. This is the culture we live in. "Do what feels right!" This does not honor God!! It's too bad that so many Christians go right along with culture rather than being counter-cultural. Seek the Word for what to do rather than how it makes you feel, what you think about it, or what Pat Robertson thinks!

I am horrified by Robertson's response! I worked as a hospice social worker for 5 years and have lost relatives to Alzheimer's as well. It is a horrible disease, one that is harder on the family than the patient. However, it also gives us an incredible opportunity to unconditionally love someone. Caregivers, when they're willing, are able to learn much through this experience. Is it easy? Absolutely not but the silver linings are there. To recommend divorce not only negates and puts conditions on their vows, it is a slippery slope. At what point do we then say it's OK to divorce if a person has this illness or that? Marriage is a commitment through sickness and health. If someone is looking for companionship, call a friend or family member. Whether their spouse recognizes them or not, dating someone else during this time period is having an affair, plain and simple.

Such irresponsible, callous comments made by Robertson. My father cared for my mother who was diagnosed with Altzheimer's at age 55 until she died at 64, at home and then daily visits to the nursing home until the day he placed her ravaged body in the grave. H kept his vows. Be ashamed of yourself Pat Robertson.

This is wretched advice. Marriage is supposed to portray the image of Christ's relationship to the Church, is it not? Christ doesn't abandon us even when we stray from or forget Him. Neither should we do the same to our spouses.

Mr Robertson is so very wrong on this. I have for the last year and a half taken care of my wife who is invalid and bedridden most days. I would not and could not give up this time with her for anything. Yes somedays it is overwhelming but that i when I get on knees and pray for help. I married her for better or worse and that doesnt mean when it gets hard to find someone else. please retract your statements and respond to line up with the Bible.

Can we just quit quoting Pat Robertson and stop giving him any more face time or exposure than he already has? He says so many things that do not represent true Christianity that we need to stop reporting what he says. He is irrelevant and we should treat him as such.

I am simply appalled. This statement is the exact opposite of what a person supporting marriage and life would express. Granted, tonight he'll go on his show and clarify (excuse) this terrible gaffe. But still -- we've seen what he really, stupidly thinks.

And I'm thankful that his statement is the exact opposite of what Christ taught about love. Dear Pat -- I hope you see the selfish, Christless perspective in your terrible advice.

This is absolutely unbelieveable. For someone who is such a man of God, Pat Robertson says some of the most cruel things I have ever heard. My grandfather has this horrible disease. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. We're thankful for every day that he knows who we are. He and my Grandmother have been married 59 years and she takes care of him every day. She is exhausted but she does not complain or whine. She just does what needs to be done. I have been married for 8 1/2 years and my husband and I have stuck together through some pretty tough times. Look at the message Pat Robertson is sending. It is absolutely shameful.

Pat!!! Where is your faith!! I would expect my husband (if I had one) to trust God for my healing!! We serve a God who is bigger than any disease!! Are you kidding me? Giving up and getting a divorce is not an option. Where is your faith?

Um... What about "in sickness and in health"?

No, don't give them guilt trips- support them and give them practical. emotional, and spiritual help to deal with their new normal.

Sorry Mr. Robertson but you are totally wrong on this one. To say things like Alzheimers is a "kind of death" opens the door to all sorts of easy outs. I know it would be incredibly tough but bottom line is if I were the one with the disease, I would want my wife at my side when it finally took me; regardless if I knew her or not at the time.

Unbelievable.

Please...somebody tell Pat to retire. It's over.

Seriously.

So I guess Pat's wife will have to divorce him should he get this disease or vice versa. I heard about this segment through a secular news program and was so disgusted. The anchor commented, "What about for better or worse, Mr. Robertson?" Would his advice be the same to those dealing with other debilitating illnesses like ALS, MS or even cancer? Many people, non-believers and believers alike, stand with their ill spouses through very difficult circumstances, to their last breath, because of love and commitment.

Mr. Robertson reminds me of Jerry Falwell who used to say inappropriate things and embarrass fellow believers. His voice was silenced. It is time for Pat to resign or be fired, then put a muzzle on. He obviously has totally lost it...doesn't think before he speaks, then loses credibility. Enough already.

Perhaps Pat Robertson is getting Alzheimers. I could not believe I just heard him say it is ok to divorce a spouse with Alzheimers.

It's embarrassing to think that Robertson is considered to be one among many spokesmen for Evangelical Christianity esp when he says things like this. This man does not speak for me. It might be time for him to step down with quiet dignity and grace.

As a nursing student, I have been blessed to witness how some spouses lovingly care for their other half who has dementia/Alzheimer's with patience and dedication. It especially touches my heart when the one doing the caring is a husband for his wife. Even though she may not even recognize him, I have borne witness to the love which is steadfast and perseveres and I can see it in their eyes.

Sorry, can't agree. I disagree with this without hesitation. This is a complete soulish, world centred viewpoint.I can agree with this man 90% of the time. But the 10% makes me to shake my head at times. I hope he has the humility to re consider his thoughts, see things differently and broadcast it.

I am very saddened by Mr.Robertson's statements & feel that he is setting a poor example for fellow Christians. I hope that he will rethink his position & ask God for help in addressing the public on this matter.

His opinion and advice on this one was jaw-dropping! Using his own, unbiblical logic, if he lost his wits (which it seems he may be headed in that direction), would his wife be allowed to divorce him as if he were dead?! I've had two grandparents who both suffered and died with Alzheimer's. It was a sad to see their situation but joy just to sit with them and hold their hand. If Alzheimer's is to be the today's measuring stick, what is tomorrow's new reason to toss someone aside ... cancer, dementia, ailing health, what? I'm so thankful that as the bride of Christ, we'll never be tossed aside. As for Pat Robertson, we should pray for him and against any negative impact this could have. As the silver lining, it'll give us some really good opportunities to discuss with and witness to our friends and neighbors.

What happens if the spouse recovers from Alzheimer's disease? With the efforts being made to slow down Alzheimer's and the never ending effort to find a cure it may be possible that the spouse will be better and then what happens?

This is the most disgraceful thing I have ever heard Pat Robertson say, out of the hundreds of disgraceful things he has said in the past. He could not be more wrong. This goes against Scripture and every promise that is made when we vow to be faithful in sickness and in health. I'm wondering if he's setting the stage for something personal. Has anyone checked on his wife lately?

I am saddened that Mr. Robertson, who publicly professes the name of Christ was bold enough to make a comment like this. He surely cannot find anywhere in scripture to validate this opinion. It has been told to me that we may be the only "Bible" that non-believers see. Mr. Robertson, you have certainly misled many people and damaged your witness for our Lord. My father cared for my mother with alzheimers for 20 years until he passed away. They had been married 64 years. He was an example to all of us of unconditional love and devotion. I am glad he is not on this earth to hear this comment of yours. If he could, I'm quite sure he would challenge you openly,,,and win!

So sorry to hear this from Pat Robertson. I think Pat thinks he is being compassionate to the needs of the man. Look at the testimonials of people who have endured this kind of hardship and worse. God always is looking for those whose hearts are turned to Him. God uses suffering to build up our own character. The whole nation would have been greatly grieved (saved or unsaved) if Nancy Reagan started going out with other men and divorcing Ronald...all were touched by her faithfulness and watch care and true love.
Thank God there are two different people sitting in those chairs. Pat also thought it was okay for a 46 year old man to date a 18 year old girl. The parents had written in and were concerned. Pat needs to use more wisdom and discretion. We just have to look at Pat in another way, too bad....America does need someone to speak out on issues...but he is a man...not God.

Robertson needs to step down. Time after time after time he opens his mouth and inserts his foot. At best, he's an embarrassment.

I'm surprised that not one person commented with understanding of what Robertson said. I'm not advocating his position, as I disagree with basically 100% of what he says, just surprised no one seems to be able to "see his side" of things. My main problem, though, is with the lazy reporting done for this story.

"Robertson's advice stands in stark contrast with most theologians and ethicists who would advise fidelity."

I think what you meant to say, Tobin Grant, was that his advice stands in contrast with "SOME theologians and ethicists." The position of fidelity is not necessarily a majority view, especially when you lump ethicists in with theologians. Further, you don't cite a single theologian or ethicist to back up this statement. Now, I understand that what you probably meant was "most (evangelical) theologians and ethicists," since you clearly have a specific audience on this site, but you should at least be honest about your bias. None of us speaks on behalf of True Christianity, not Robertson, not Tobin Grant, not Al Mohler, not any of the commenters here, including myself, so maybe we can do a little more work and more appropriately nuance our statements.

Pat Robertson, you are giving advice against Biblical doctrine. I pray God convicts you of giving worldly advice and twisting God's word. I will no longer tape your 700 Club tv show.

what about the wedding vows pat...do you honour your wedding vows To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.
i wonder if your wife will send you to the mental hospital if you turn crazy....i hope people will boycott TBN..heretic preacher.. self centered

I am impressed with the depths of the comments on this issue. Thanks to all (well most,anyway)

Certainly not something that would glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31). Nor would I want to give an account for this treatment of a sick spouse on judgment day (2 Cor. 5:10). It isn't reflective of love (1 Cor. 13) What he advocates is so far from the picture of Christ's love for the Church - which Christian marriage is a model (Ephesians 5), that I wonder if Pat doesn't have something seriously wrong with is own brain. What is his biblical justification for this advice. 1 Timothy 1:7
" . . .wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions." I pray he goes off the air!

Charismatic chaos.

Can we now say with absolute 100% certainty that Pat Robertson is NOT (no longer) a spokesperson for the evangelical movement? Please?!?

What about the mans adult children watching their father abandoning their mother during her greatest need. What kind of example would this be.

I think it is sad that he feels this way... And I am shocked at this man of God making a statement like this.........

Wow, we now know what he's made of. This is what he just said to his wife: "Honey, I just want you to know that if you get to a point to where you no longer know who I am, I just may dump you off in a home and get on with my life."

Hey, Pat. Do you think it's okay for God to break his promise and bail on you if your mental capacity reaches a stage to where you no longer know who He is?

Mr. Robertson: Quit your job and spend some time reading your bible.

Obviously, Pat's wife has alzheimer's --

The bible desrcibes Gods relationship to us similar to that between a man and his wife. God does not abandon us when were sick, and neither should a man leave his wife when she is sick. Very bad judgement from Pat Robertson. Let's give him grace though and pray his heart changes.

Mr. Robertson is dead wrong, unbiblical, and heartless.

In my experience, people with Alzheimer's and related dementias can also speak their own truth and occasionally say amazing and enlightening things. They can experience moments of joy, and they can ALWAYS feel love and compassion to the very end. They are NEVER "gone" or "like a death" as Robertson describes them.
Alzheimer's and related dementias are often horrific for families to deal with, but thank God that there are spouses who are committed, dedicated and truly willing to abide their Christian marriage vows.
Pat Robertson should be very much ashamed. His statements have no basis in fact, and they certainly do not reflect the Christian faith I live by everyday.
I strongly encourage him to fully retract his statements and issue a fully apology.

Okay, so now Pat Robertson feels qualified to re-write God's holy vows concerning Marriage???!!!???? News Flash: For those who can read this, and STILL watch/donate to 700 Club & CBN, then I seriously question your commitment to God, and to TRUTH.......Pat Robertson has made a grave departure from the faith, and to not only condone but ADVISE others to leave their ailing spouses is nothing short of A DENIAL OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH! If you can't see that, God help you......

Pat, please go to the house. You have nothing to say whatsoever!

Pat Robertson needs to shut up and go away, seriously.

But I also have to ask: Where was the outrage among CTs readers when, last year, CT published in the space of a couple of months articles fussing about how the gulf oil spill was "suffocating life instead of nurturing it" while embracing the human overpopulation myth and then, for the icing on the cake - they publish a dispassionate retelling of how a woman ordered the death of three of her offspring in vitro - where was the outrage then?

Pat Robertson could not be more wrong - but so were those other advocates and yet there was little, if any, criticism of what they advocated. I can't help but wonder how much of the outrage comes from the source of the comments and not their content.

Kamilla

Nothing could be further from the truth of God's Word. He owes everyone who has ever stood for and cared for a loved one with any disease a profound apology!

Mr. Robertson most definitely needs to repent of these false and callous statements!! Oh how grievous when we consider his level of influence upon the masses, and the many people who will now: Rationalize and justify leaving their spouse for another, due to Alzheimer's.
To think of the spirit of a man or woman being devastated and broken upon knowledge that their husband/wife is 'discarding' them, due to this disease, is mind boggling and so incredibly not like our kind, merciful, long suffering, forbearing, and loving God. The wedding vows at marriage create a Holy covenant relationship before God and man, and are binding. "For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live." The selfish, distorted mindset of Pat Robertson's statements reflect a profound lack of reverence and understanding as to the heart of God and His people. It is so profoundly sad to me in knowing these words have even been spoken. May God be merciful unto Mr. Robertson and may we remember our own sinfulness, that we are but dust, treading ground with feet of clay.

Pat simply needs to resign, retire, get off of the airwaves. Goodbye Pat. Hope you don't get Alzheimers

I agree with most comments here but Pat makes a very important point about the need for companionship. Can I suggest that the outrage we feel should also prompt us to make sure we offer true friendship and regular fellowship to those spouses who have, to all intents and purposes, 'lost' their spouse. Their road is a lonely and often a long one - let's make sure that they have companionship of another kind so their burden is not too much to bear by themselves.

I understand the need for companionship and how difficult it would be to care for someone with Alzheimer's. But what happened to commitment in marriage?

Astounding that someone who knows the Lord and his faithfulness would say such a thing. Jesus loved us while we were his enemies, and laid down his life for us. Where is the glory of God in leaving your spouse when they no longer serve your needs? This is close to the heartbeat of all social atrocities...abortion...euthanasia...etc..

I sat with my Grandmother as she suffered with Alzheimer's. I enjoyed every minute of our conversations even though she had no idea, most of the time who I was. She had reverted back to when my Dad was a young man. What a joy to here her talk about things that happened before I was borne, as if it happened yesterday. Yes as the illness got worse she began to loose more, but I enjoyed her company just the same. I am glad God never forgets me even I sometimes forget him. So God smack Mr. Pat Robertson in the head, and remind him Who You Are!

I disagree with the comments made by Robertson and more importantly so does scripture. The road may be long and weary, but we are called to a higher purpose and commitment than the rest of the "world". I'm quite surprised he would take such a viewpoint. Marriage is a lifelong commitment, not a commitment to do it so long as it's easy and not inconvenient.

YOU NEVER LEAVE A PARTNER IN A FIRE NEVER!!!!!!!!!!

It is unfortunate when certain Evangelical leaders choose to "stay on the stage" much too long. The past decade has found Mr. Robertson making a number of ill-informed observations, which have not served to enrich the Church. I'm not sure whether to believe he is simply "off base" or whether he is trying to hang on to viewers for his TV show. This type of remark does not speak the love of Christ; rather, it may be received as justification for an act of selfishness and lack of longsuffering. Another blown call, Pat!

The comments by Mr. Robertson are sad no doubt, but let us remember the Gospel and the grace that has been shown into our once dark hearts. Let us pray that Mr. Robertson is a true child of the Most High God and he will be given grace by being disciplined for these reckless words about marriage.

Let us sheep thank our Shepherd that He NEVER abandons His bride. NEVER! Man may fail but Christ never does.

Duplicate. It is easy to judge when you haven't seen someone go through this. You eventually have to put them in a special home and visit them. I can't judge when the spouse who is ill has to be alone for years and years. If they are at a young age, it is even worse. I wouldn't want my spouse to be lonely and sad. I have seen this firsthand, it is devestating. There is a documentary about this very subject where a man re-married and he and his wife love her and visit her everyday, she just knows them as her best friends, nothing else.

So much for "in sickness and health" and "til death we depart"! I made my vows before God and I intend to keep them!

Marriage is, biblically, a picture of Christ and the church. What would our lives look like if Christ left us when we became sick and when we forget about him? This happens on a daily basis because of our sinful nature but our Jesus is gracious enough to see us through. Although I do sympathize with the man, it is pure irresponsibility for Mr. Robertson, as a spiritual leader to give advice that clearly opposes Scripture and leads the man, and many other Christians on a path away from Christ and the discipline He asks of us. No matter how hard it got for Jesus, He still died on the cross; the disciples on the Bible endured extreme hardships for the sake of Christ; we are still held under the sake standard and if we love Christ, then we love as Christ loved, not for yourself but for Him. Staying with her shows a beautiful picture of grace and love that only Christ could provide, and would speak volumes to believers and non-believers alike and that is our purpose on earth. It's not about us.

Did he also tell that to Nancy Reagan?

I can't believe what I read. This man has Alzheimer's. He should be fired. Quit watching and supporting this show and go out and love the loveless.

A man is supposed to love his wife as Christ loves the church, Will Christ ever abandon the church in time of need?? Sickness?? What kind of advice is this?

hey guys he made a mistake lets forgive and go on and let God handle it has he choices.dont make yourself a part of the sin .love you all .

I agree that this is a very difficult disease, so heartbreaking,about which we need to be compassionate, but I completely disagree with Robertson that it is ok to divorce your spouse. Marriage is a covenant until death. It is not a mere contract to be broken when facing difficulty. As a Christian leader, Robertson has the responsibility to teach truth. That doesn't mean he shouldn't show compassion to the spouses who are in pain over this ordeal, but it means he is obligated to tell the truth. What a shame that he hasn't! For more on this subject, I highly recommend the book by Robertson McQuilken, The Promise. What McQuilken did for his wife honored God. Any man or woman facing Alzheimers would be encouraged by this book.

I understand the idea that we all make mistakes and that we need to have grace, but when there is teaching that goes so far against what Scripture teaches us, and when that teaching is brought on by someone who is in the limelight and is considered a leader in the evangelical movement, we do need to call those words in to question. We need to test everything that is heard by the Scriptures, no matter who is saying them. He needs to be called on the carpet for his comments, not just have the Christian population turn a blind eye and keep on moving.

Someone commented earlier that Pat made a good point in that companionship was important and that it is a long and lonely road, so we need to be certain that we are there for those who are walking it. Amen! I pray that if nothing else, this shows us that we need to be there for the hurting, hold our brothers and sisters up in more than prayer, and walk with them. I am not married, but his callous words made me hurt and ache inside. Not because he's disappointed me or that I looked up to Pat Robertson, because I can tell you that I disagree with much that leaves his mouth. I ache inside because there are people who are going to believe that this is okay. I hurt because someone even said something like that in the first place. I pray that we can all be living examples for Christ's love and patience and that we hold our loved ones a little tighter, reminded of our commitments to them and Christ's commitment to us.

This is herecy at worst, and heartless, poor pastoral advice at best. I believe it's time for Rev. Robetson to step down from his public ministry. I pray for him; that God in His grace will correct this man's thoughts. I could hardly believe what I was hearing from him. It's not the first time that I have disagreed with his comments, but this is the first time I have literally sat with jaw hanging and shaking my head at the ridiculous and obvious scriptural error of his words.

@Katherine R: I respectfully disagree with you K for a couple of reasons. First, a documentary is not a moral compass for right and wrong. Because you see something work does not make it right. Second, you cannot get into the head of another person with or without alzheimers. You do not know that she views them as best friends. I have seen tears fall from alzheimer patients over things you tell them but they are unable to tell me how they feel or think. The soul of a person still responds and that is how I connect.

Yesterday I sat with my mother at dinner. I watched a man who comes in and daily feeds his wife, wipes her mouth and loves on her. He told me about fishing trips and things he likes to do. He continues to be her husband even when there is nothing in it for him. That is the real definition of love.

I hope Pat recognizes his mistake, spends some time loving alzheimer patients and gets a realistic view of them. They are not walking dead. Pat influences too many for us to forgive and forget. He needs to correct this advice to the public.

Mr. Robertson,
I would like to know when did God die and appoint you to say what is ok and what is not about marriage! Your comment that Alzheimer's is a cause for divorce underminds what marriage is about. Alzheimers is NOT a valid reson for divorce according to my Bible KJV, You should know this and you do know it! I am really worried about you MR Robertson when we begin to think and act like we are bigger than God there is a problem. Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

You will be in my prayers
Randy Poole

So marriage is no longer about a holy vow under God. It's merely a matter of convenience. If having a disease that is live threatening or a "kind of death" makes you divorce material then we are all in trouble. Cancer patients, AID's victims, severe amputees and more are no longer considered living? Where is the Christ like love in that? Does God stop loving us just because we live in an imperfect world and get imperfect diseases? I don't think so. If that was the case then simply getting this disease would cost us our irrevocable salvation. If Jesus and God our Father won’t let us go in that time neither should we forsake a vow that we very likely made before God and our spouse. What Pat describes is Un-Godly and (to my fellow men) a very un-manly approach to hardship. Never leave your wife out to dry just because it's hard. Check out Matthew 19:9 if you still are wondering.

I feel nothing but sorry for Pat Robertson. You can tell the years are taking their toll on him.

Pat Robertson is a part of the Word of Faith movement, which is chock full of false prophets, false teachers, and false healers. Robertson's controversial statements (as the one above) not only keep him in the spotlight, but go beyond what the Bible teaches. He gets away with it because his followers are afraid to question his "authority".

While the internet contains plenty of information on Pat Robertson and his false teachings and false prophecies, he and the "700 Club" will continue to deceive until Christians say "Enough is enough" and stop supporting him.

Bud Press

Jean Vanier shared the following story:

I know a man who lives in Paris. His wife has Alzheimer's. He was an important businessman—his life filled with busyness. But he said that when his wife fell sick, "I just couldn't put her into an institution, so I kept her. I fed her. I bathed her." I went to Paris to visit them, and this businessman who had been very busy all his life said, "I have changed. I have become more human." I got a letter from him recently. He said that in the middle of the night his wife woke him up. She came out of the fog for a moment, and she said, "Darling, I just want to say thank you for all you've doing for me." Then she fell back into the fog. He told me, "I wept and I wept."

Mr. Robertson, this man is our role model. Please apologize.

Whatever happened to:

Do you take this woman to be your wife, according to God’s holy decree; do you promise to be to her a loving and loyal husband, to cherish and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, to be faithful only to her as long as you both shall live?

Answer: I do.

Did Robertson say "I don't"?

Marriage is a Holy sacrament instituted by God for our mutual edification and as a path for us to work out our salvation mutually. The "for better or worse, in sickness and in health" experiences we encounter are the very means He uses to mold us into His Image. How sad to see the Church is viewing marriage as a means for purely worldly reasons like sex and companionship. Yes, we enjoy many joys and pleasures from marriage, but it is so much more!

MR. Robertson, I have to tell you that you’re wrong! There is only one reason for divorce and Alzheimer's is not a given reason according to my bible. I do have a question for you, since when has God gave you the authority to miss interpret is divine word? Its people like you that give ALL Christians a bad name. Yet alone you’re confusing many right now! Confusion is NOT of God Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. It is not sufficient to “hear” Gods Words they must be obeyed. Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Today you have shown your true colors!!

Randy Poole

I could not imagine my husband wantig to divorce me just because I was sick. It is really selfish to only think of your need for companionship when your lifelong companion has such a horrible disease. If you cannot properly care for your spouse, find help, but that doesn't mean desert him/her. If you need companionship in the midst of this, find a friend or a councilor.

Seriously?

Does Christ ever leave the church?

Does God keep His promises?

This is an extremely serious statement and has serious ramifications for the body of Christ.

This is not truth and I fear the Lord for the way that a man of power is leading Christian. May the Lord open his blinded eyes that he may know that the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever. May He know that Christ laid His entire life down for the church. He did not go on to bigger and more glorious things. He laid Himself down in obedience and love for the Father and then was exulted by the Father himself. We do not break God's law to exhult ourselves.

Seriously?

Is there any wonder why many non-christians feel the way they do about Christianity and religion in general.

Read this, and know that this man "Pat Robertson" does not represent Christianity, morrality, or basic human ethics. For anyone that supports the 700 club and Pat Roberson, if this doesn't make it clear exactly how off base and out of tune he is then there's no help for you. Everyone should read this and then send an email to the "700 Club" and express your opinion of Mr. Robertson's condonation of sin. If you disagree with me about this, I'm sorry you're WRONG! If you feel Mr. Robertson is entitled to his own opinion, you are WRONG! When he goes on a show that is broadcast world wide or even if he is just standing in public he is, by his own choosing, representing GOD! He is representing the bible, morrality, christianity, and basic human ethics.......his statement here goes head on against all of these including GOD! I challenge everyone, regardless of faith, to contact "The 700 Club" and give them your opinion. For those of you who may not be Christians, please understand the Mr. Robertson speaks for himself out of his own mouth, and NOT from the bible nor for the will and glory of GOD!

I do not agree that it is OK. to divorce a spouse who has Alzheimer's. My husband passed away from cancer 2 years a go.
When my husband got sicker I stayed with him and cared for him.
My grandmother had Alzheimer's and my grandfather stayed with her right up to the time she went to Heaven.

Pat Robertson has said some pretty stupid and un-Godly things in the past, but this is the icing on the cake. Satan is speaking through this man. Pat Robinson is obviously a Marionette for Satan. I hope that the 700 Club and CBN ban him from being a part of their ministries. I never imagined this much hypocrisy coming from someone in a power of Christian position. May God have mercy on his soul.

Pat is not speaking for all Christendom. He needs to stop this nonsense and turn back to the infallible Word of God. He is a false teacher. Who is supporting this fall teaching? They need to stop their donations!

Every couple whom I have married has been required to say the following :

Standard Episcopal Church Vows

Groom
In the name of God, I, (name), take you, (name), to be my wife,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better or worse, for richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow.

Bride
In the name of God, I, (name), take you, (name), to be my husband,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better or worse, for richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow.

Mr. Robertson does not represent a valid Christian viewpoint and I could not in any way, shape or form support his so-called Ministry.

As I read the article, dumbfounded by this man's incredulous remarks, this popped into my head and heart: "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

what would Ben think?

I was blessed with nearly twenty-five years with my first wife before she died from cancer complications, and now I am blessed again in a second marriage. My second wife’s parents both succumbed to Alzheimer’s. That puts my wife in a statistically dangerous territory. But I took a vow to love her, and I will keep that vow as long as she breathes.

And even besides the marriage vows, how about when Jesus said that the only permissible reason for divorce is marital infidelity? What Mr. Robertson has said is directly against the teachings of Jesus himself. I am not trying to condemn him, that would not be right. But I think he should come forward and correct this because his truth may be the only truth that some people have heard or will ever hear. The word says that we must not be "stumbling blocks" or "lead people astray."

Really, this is about the worst thing I've ever heard. Read the news today. Even secularists think this is horrible.

Such a response makes me very sad. It would seem that Pat Robertson believes that God doesn't expect us to stand up to the trials of life and endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. If the going gets too tough, bail out, because after all the Gospel is about my and my comfort and what's good for me. I think Mr. Robertson needs to re-read his Bible and realize that life is not always easy but that the Lord never brings more our way than what we can handle. Being faithful to a spouse with Alzheimer's can't be as difficult as all of Job's troubles combined, including his wife being against him! With Christian advice like this, the devil may as well go to sleep!

I hope you repent of such a statement Pat. You have NO authority to change the word of God. FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE the Bible says, not if you can't handle it or are too stressed out.

I am disgusted with you saying that on live TV and do you know how many people you influenced with the DEVIL'S message? How sad! You blew it! Here was a perfect opportunity to witness for Jesus by saying the right thing. How sad!

This is not the first time I have heard you giving bad advice tho. Maybe you need to get off of TV and in the Word and study more.

Repent before you die or Jesus comes or you will be a lost man for such a sin.

I will be praying for you!

...incredible?!

in sickness and in health. period.

Sounds like Mr. Robertson has Alzheimers disease himself and has forgotten God's Word. Let's not desert him as he "gives" other caregiver's permission to do so, but either love him enough to remind him of what God clearly says about faithfulness in marriage, or encourage him to step down from leading others astray.

I watched my brilliant father decline through Parkinson's and dementia - not Alzheimer's, they finally decided, but it was terribly close to the same thing. The things my mother, sister and I (and the rest of our family) learned as we walked this road forced us all to grow in faith and in our own levels of human kindness. As a caregiver you may think you're simply giving to the patient, but in the end you are getting just as much as you give from the experience. Our children also learned first-hand personal lessons about support and unending love. Don't turn your back - and a big AMEN to those who have recommended active and proactive support of care givers. That element is essential.

Utilitarian mind!
What kind of Christianity is this?
Has he read the Holy Book? Certainly not!
Is he in accordance with the teaching of Jesus Christ? Of course not!
Pure interest. Money, money and sinful advises.
Who told him that the person with Alzhimer's is dead, gone?
Who is gone is Pat Roberton, who at that age should be preparing his soul for His Creator.

I am horrified by Robertson's comments. My father suffered from Alzheimer's disease (among other ailments) for nearly five years. My mother struggled with caring for him until the final stages, when the local hospice organization came in, and saved our lives, and our sanity. My mother had very frustrating days with my father, but she stayed with him until his death.

It is high time Robertson stepped away from the cameras and stopped saying such irresponsible things. He does not represent real Christianity at all.

Atheist says good riddance in apparent forgetfulness that climate change means climate change fir him as well.

If you're in favor of assisted suicide/pragmatic view of life, Pat Robertson just made a tremendous argument for what you believe in.

Does he have a Board of Directors to hold him accountable to the teachings of God's Word? It's time they step in and put him out to pasture.

I disagree as well and am sad that this will give unbelievers one more thing to prove their point about hypocritical Christians.

I am curious, however, about where this is coming from for Mr. Robertson personally. It's clear he is really identifying with the pain of such a dilemma (again, the Christ-like choice is to stay). Though he seems to have gotten soft in his theology, I'm wondering if his heart has softened over the years so that he is giving less black and white, judgmental reactions and humbly empathizing with someone in their suffering. In one way, he has failed, but perhaps his compassion is growing...

My mother, my siblings and I took the journey for 7 years with my dad as he experienced and died from Alzheimer's disease. At certain stages, it is true that one does not always know what the victim does comprehend, but out of loyalty and love,family caretakers want to comfort and soothe as much as possible to bring the person some familiarity. Sometimes the only gesture of love is to be touched or to hear a voice that they know. For a spouse to abandon the other spouse because of this disease is cruel. No one wants to be left with strangers. I only hope that all of these responses will help Pat R. to realize that sometimes the "road less traveled is the best road to take."

Mr. Robertson has long been infamous for insensitive, inflammatory, anti-Gospel statements. Here his narcissistic senility reaches a new social low. Embarrassing!

I usually agree with MOST of what he says. This isn't one of them. Then, again, how many people do we know with whom we agree with all the time? I will continue to watch his program and support him.

The marriage vows we make at the altar before Almighty God have more to do with commitment than with compassion or feelings. Matthew 19:6= So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." and Deuteronomy 31:8 ="And the LORD, He [is] the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." are quite clear. We are commanded in John 13:34 ="A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another". - To continually bestow God's unfailing and undeserved lovingkindnes and unswerving loyalty to our mate...even if he/she were in acoma for life! For if we reject our mate, we are telling the world that Jesus just might reject them as well. www.marriageanchors.com

Pat Robertson advises to dump your love, responsibility, compassion? at a time when a person needs you most? what happened to "do unto other as you would have them do unto you"? This is so wrong. What about the child that doesn't know you? Leave them in an institution?

Par for the course when it comes to Pat Robertson.

I'm sorry, but the only option Jesus gave for divorce was infidelity. Even then, He said it was a concession given, "because of the hardness of your hearts" (Matthew 19:8-9).

When a loved one is sick is when they need the most to see the unconditional compassion Jesus would give--even if they are not always aware of who is giving it. That's the kind of commitment that pleases the Lord and will earn His praise for ministering to "the least of these" as unto Him (Matthew 25:35-40).

My grandfather is not even a believer, but he stuck with my grandmother through the decline of her health and mental faculties due to Parkinson's disease. I have never been prouder of him than during those years watching him love and care for her to the very end. He is a WWII veteran, but I think he showed more courage and valor through this act of faithfulness than he ever needed on the battlefield.

I respectfully disagree with Rev. Robertson, and I urge others to look to scripture for direction and not to men. God can give you the strength to stay true to your marital vows to love "in sickness and in health"!

In this article you read, among other things:
• Pat says “…he would understand if…”
• “I can't fault him for wanting some kind of companionship…”
• “…I recognize the dilemma and the last thing I'd do is condemn you for taking that kind of action..."

If you notice, Robertson is continually saying “I”. He has forgotten that whatever his opinion may be, he in NOT GOD. Pat does not determine the right or wrong of the matter it is GOD.
These comments show that Pat has not read the bible in a long time because God’s word was, is, and will be the same. Hey Pat, you need to repent…and pray to God you don’t get Alzheimer’s!

Someone needs to read the Bible again!!

There is a story about ancient China that goes something like this: A man called his son over and instructed him to buy a ricsha and bring it to him. When asked why dad needed a ricsha, he replied, "Your grandfather is very old; I plan to sit him in the ricsha and roll him off a cliff." The obedient son departed, and on his returh he brought two ricshas. Whe dad asked why he bought two, the son replied, "I thought I'd save my self the trouble and prepare for your turn."

Well, Pat's wife now knows she is covered to leave his sorry behind if he contracts Alzheimer's.

I would expect nothing less from this false teacher. He is truly a fool.

What other ministers boast of their 'youthfulness'? Pat brags about himself, constantly, in many areas...health, wealth, knowledge, etc. You name it. Totally inappropriate for a Christian broadcast.Others preach the word of GOD. Pat bragged about lifting the heavy weights that would be impossible for a man of his age to lift. He constantly tells how long he plans to live...to be 100!! Are you GOD?? Too much flirting with Kristy!! Sickening!! He says it's ok for a 46 year old man to date an 18 year old. He says that lots of older men like some young BABE on their arm!!! That's disrespectful to women!! What kind of talk is this!!?? He states that an Alzheimer's victim is 'dead,' so it's ok to divorce that person. Be sure your wife knows she has every right to divorce you when you get Alzheimers. Has this man ever read God's word??? What kind of Christian leadership is this??? Pat Robertson places himself as the ultimate authority above God. Thank God the ladies on the show speak their minds! Go, girls!! In the end times, men will be lovers of themselves...there will be false prophets. How about his thoughts about the Rapture? Not Biblical, yet he tells others to check with the Bible...WE HAVE, PAT!!! You seem to 'preach' that whatever feels good, do it! Get checked for Alzheimers. Your dog has more sense. You are no Billy Graham!!!

Yet another flub from a high profile Christian, that will have to be retracted at some point. Please for the Love of Our God, think and pray before you speak on national t.v. Even the "world" gets this right!!!!

Pat is out of his mind to advice like this. He doesn't sound like a Bible man he claims to me. Maybe he should go back to the School of the Basics and learn the elementary teachings of Jesus, "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." If there is a moment that a spouse will take care for each other is in time of this deep need.

Is he married? What does his wife think about what he said? I hope she never gets Alzheimers!

Honestly, Pat Robertson has said so many absurd and downright delusional things over the years, that he can no longer surprise me. The only thing that surprises me is that there is still an audience for the 700 Club. It's sad that so many otherwise well-meaning Christians support such a ludicrous fraud. Pull the plug.

Our society is in a sad state. We abort imperfect and inconvenient babies. Our divorce rate is an abomination to our Lord. We've lost our moral compass; and now a high-profile Christian says it's o.k. to break one's marriage vows because of Alzheimer's. Many people sent in beautiful comments in support of Biblical truth. An issue that no one has mentioned,however, is that of carrying one's cross. Jesus tells us that if we would follow Him, we must daily take up our cross. It is His death, His cross which yielded such abundant fruit - the forgiveness of sin and eternal life for those who believe. I suspect that when we carry our crosses, He accomplishes great things we may never know of this side of heaven. When we unite our suffering with His, He is faithful to bring good from it. That said, one who is caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's, or any other grave disease, carries a very heavy cross. My own father does so in caring for my mother who has Alzheimer's. And those of us who are not the primary care-givers have an amazing opportunity to be the Body of Christ, to help carry that cross. We should never advocate rejecting the crosses God allows into our lives. We would miss such great blessing. I long to hear the words of my Lord, "Well done, good and faithful servant." We need to pray for Pat Robertson and anyone who will be influenced by his words.

Sad to see this. It is no representation of authentic Chritianity.

It's exactly why nearly all my millennial generation peers want nothing to do with this guy or his ilk.

The Russ Moore piece is very good.

Mr. Robinson's words make my heart break; I pray he repents and takes them back. I agree with those of you who say it's a slippery slope. Once we start making excuses for things because they make us uncomfortable, we are in dangerous territory.

God bless those of you who have stayed beside your ailing spouses. You set a loving example and are a blessing to those whom you've stayed with. I'm not yet married, but I hope I can be that kind of faithful wife, and find that kind of faithful husband.

Sorry, I have to say I really disagree with Pat Robertson. For better OR FOR WORSE, those are the marriage vows. Sure it is difficult, but that is the cross. My mother had Alzheimer's for 10 years and I could not even fathom my father divorcing her. We were never exactly sure what my mother understood or did not understand but we continued to be a presence at her side, talking to her until the moment of her death.

Robert wrote: "It is no representation of authentic Chritianity. It's exactly why nearly all my millennial generation peers want nothing to do with this guy or his ilk."

This is true -- but at the same time, many of the millenial leaders are making statements about Christianity in light of what they consider "right," too (I've seen articles that justify divorce in publications for younger Christians as well) -- so I can't say, with a blanket statement, that those of us who are younger than Robertson have it 100% correct, either. We need to lean on Scripture and not what we want to think or do.

I think Pat gave that man terrible advice. The vows are "till death do us part" not "until marriage gets to be a pain."

On the other hand, Pat can't win no matter what he says, so he was probably trying to give a sensitive, non-judgmental answer that royally backfired in his face.

A spouse dying of Alzheimer needs loving care. Who better to give that care than a spouse of 20...30...40 years? "A kind of death"? No, this is the same line used by countless folks to justify separation/divorce from a healthy mate--"This relationship is destroying me!-- when what they really want is more leisure or more stuff or a change of scenery: It is muddled thinking at best--and fodder for the comedians at Vanity Fair.

I personally am not a follower of Pat, but after having heard only part of the story I wanted to get caught up on the whole story. From the outside looking in, I may not follow Pat, but I do read God's Holy word. After reading all of these responses, I feel it very necessary to say I do not agree with Pat, but there should be another valid point made - Pat says "divorce is okay if your spouse gets Alzheimer’s" BUT the Bible says "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 17:15 AND Now that I know this isn't the first instance with Pat - he shouldn't be getting a chance to correct this time!! Those watching and witnessing him lead off his own opinion and not the Bible should no longer be giving their time to the cause. Yes, Christians need fellowship, but when they know they are being led astray and falsely taught, others opinions then start becoming the followers reality and it is also one’s personal responsibility to flee away from wrong doings.
As for me, I will keep reading the Bible, I know that it is true.
May God bless and lead you all, according to His perfect will.

Wrong, Pat. Wrong.
Or, when Jesus shared the Sermon on the Mount he was ignorant of Alzheimers. I don't think so.
It's okay to be wrong, Pat, but a true man of God would be willing to admit it. Or is Alzheimer's stronger than prayer?

Typical Protestant Christianity..take the Corpus from the Cross so they won't be reminded of the part of Christianity is to take up your cross and suffer.Pat Robertson along with a host of others prefer to make their faith fit them comfortably...all of you bible only Christians better run back and look at just how unChristian Mr. Robertsons remarks and views on this subject are.No wonder a new denomination pops up almost every day.

This should not come as a total shock. Remember, Pat Robertson said that he understood the need for China's one-child-per-family abortion policy. From what I remember, he felt it was the right decision on the government's part. His comments about divorcing someone with alzheimer's are absolutely insane. Either he is losing it or he has some kind of agenda. May God help him.

I am so disgusted with Robertson. He has no honor. He is a dog, a coward, and just an SOB. I have never heard of anything so despicable.

Thank you for highlighting the fine example of Robertson McQuilkin as an example of Christlike faithfulness to his wife Muriel when she was stricken with Alzheimers. He is a true leader, in word and in deed, and Pat Robertson would do well to follow his example.

Glad you guys are starting to see that Pat Robertson is nothing but a huckster! He's been making hundreds of millions of dollars off of idiotic people who should put that money into their own communities rather than giving it to he and his super-rich family. This is just one in a long line of hateful, un-Christlike things he has said over these many years! Wake up people!

September 16th would have been our 45th Anniversary, but my husband died in 2001 fourteen years after being left disabled by a drunk driver, and the reading of Pat Robertson's comments made me literally break down and sob. Was Ron caregiver for fourteen years, and the thought of divorcing him as Pat Robertson would have suggested makes me sob even more. What kind of authentic Christian can ignore the 'for better for worse in sickness and in health, 'til death do us part'?

When I read about his response and listened to the actual video footage of it I was struck by several things:

- First, that the person asking the question related the fact that the "friend" who spouse was suffering from Alzheimer's was already seeing other women.

- Second, as everyone else has responded the notion of "kicking your life's partner to the curb" seemed more than callous.

- Third, despite one's position on same-sex marriage, time and again you have to admire the fact that gay couples have stood by one another when dealing with end stage AIDS. Why would a Christian couple do anything less?

- Four, when Terri Schiavo was in the news it was a wrenching story and I remember the comments made by leaders like Pat Robertson. Always, there was the stated need to respect life. Attention must be paid to those who are unable to protect themselves.

Sadly, not for the first time have I lived to see the day when I was frankly ashamed to call myself an Evangelical. Pat Robertson has left me with nothing but a sense of self-loathing. If our faith has come to this end, then we need to re-examine who we are and what we think.

Pat Robertson is not some "new-comer" who has yet to gain his footing in the Evangelical World. When others look at who we are he is one of a small handful of figures who help define Evangelical Thought.

Pat needs to retire ten years ago. Enough is enough. This is only the latest of his gaffes. He needs to leave with some dignity.

Quite simply, there are few examples of Christ's love more profound than a spouse caring for their loved one suffering from Alzheimers. I know from seeing what it did to my Mom who stuck with my Dad until the end. Mr. Robertson should be pointing this out as an example of Christ's love, rather than giving the caller a get-out-of-jail-free card.

The good part of the protest about Mr. Roberton's gaffe is that the original caller will now see how bad the advice he was given is.

I did not hear the program, but it seemed the context centered around someone already struggling with loss and the issue of fidelity within the context of being a caretaker, or at least an observer. This is where sympathy of emotion can lead to confusion. He would not condemn his suffering friend. If his friend is going to pursue another relationship, THEN he (should divorce his spouse and provide for her care) is what the context seems to suggest. In saying that the illness is like a death, Robertson acknowledges the emotional reality of what his friend endures. There is the greater reality, however, cited by the other comment writers here, and I think that Mr. Robertson DID err, but not quite to the extent suggested by some. In any case, while many follow big names in Christian media, we all will stand before God, either at the Behma judgement or at the judgement without mercy. "But Pat Robertson TOLD me I could" won't be a defense of poor conduct at that time.

This advice is the complete antithesis of every single teaching of Our Blessed Lord jesus Christ. Pat Robertson should be booted off The 700 Club, he is just despicable.

What happened to "in sickness and in health?" What happened to "'til death us do part?" I'm sorry, this is just not right. No one promises that marriage is going to be a bed of roses. True love hangs in there no matter what. The marriage ceremony mirrors Christ's love for his church. Does Christ leave when we forget him? No. Neither can we do the same to our spouse.

I agree with him. You only get one life. The 'Until death do us part" was fine when people lived to 40 years of age, or even 50 but these days? Alzheimers is a death though the body lives on. Not selfish but putting value on yourself with compassion for your sick partner.

That is awful thinking and awful words from anybody. Reading what He said has shown the level of gracelessness he has sunk. Somebody help his mind before he says another awful thing. Jesus accepted us in our conditions and even now he does, alzhiemer or anything. Pat Robertson never spoke from Christ's perspective. Do you remember "and the love of many will grow cold?" Child of God do not let yours do as that of Pat Robertson.

Pat Robertson is not God! If he is a true follower of Jesus this advice he has given is terrible! You follow what the Bible tells you and that is till death do you part! Death in the ground not a so called what he calls "Walking Death". His advice needs to be screened by a true Preacher who loves and obeys God before he can say anything to people.

Pat Robertson didn't just fumble the ball; he ripped the ball apart, knocked down the goal post, and set the stadium on fire! I don't know why any preacher would so boldly go against God's word.

Pat Robertson is encouraging adultery by his ignorant comments on as well as violating the marriage covenant.

I am not a regular viewer of the 700 Club. I have always felt that Pat Robertson is similar to a false prophet, leading people away from the true gospel. While he has made statements that have been biblically correct, he interjects worldly views too often. His encouraging the killing (he says kidnapping was what he meant) of Hugo Chavez is not something endorsed in the bible and the opposite is actually preached.

His recent comment is probably a good thing which is to open the eyes of Robertson's die hard faithful to realize something is wrong with this man and to follow only Jesus. We are to place only God on the throne and not someone like him or anyone else.

I am praying for Robertson because scripture talks about people who lead others away from the true gospel (better to tie a millstone around your neck and throw yourself into the sea applies to all ages of children of God).

Absolutely wrong. You do not divorce your spouse, because he is sick in any way. Just took care of my husband for 2 years with a terminal illness. Yes, his mind was good, and yes we were able to do a few things together up until the last few weeks. But as the caretaker I was also lonesome and wanted the old person back. It is hard on the caretaker what ever the illness, but death is death not illness. We made a vow, keep it. Get help, but love your spouse.

It's the same story over-and-over with the same disgraceful endings. Charismatic theological error results in loss of moral integrity. Young so-called leaders are involved in sexual infidelity, middle-aged leaders are involved in financial scandals, and muddle-headed showboats put feelings/emotions ahead of biblical doctrinal truth. Covenant marriage reflects the *intimate togetherness* of the Trinity; events which bring an end to this covenant are few. The covenant doesn't end due to illness on the part of husband or wife.

@Thomas Whitley - While you are correct that the author of this article should not have stated that "most" theologians and ethicists since there are many that are more secular in viewpoint than biblical in their stance, I disagree that "many" (and I dont need to quote since you can easily review the other comments) are not being considerate of Mr. Robertson's views. In Robertson's self apppointed role in a Christian show, he has a responsibility to put away his personal pov or, at minimum, state that his pov may not be biblical when he makes comments that are opposite of what is taught.

The people that have commented have more of a "right" to express their opinion on this site than Robertson because of his role on the 700 Club. It is a typical comment I see following an article such as this that people are being scolded for their opinion, even though this isnt being read by the masses, while supporting or appearing to support the "rights" of someone who publicly makes a statement. It appears to be a hypocritical stance.

@Isabel Cazar - I will support your right to your opinion but I would like to ask you, since you are on a Christian oriented site, do you believe that the bible is true and is God first in your life?

BTW, in the early days of humanity, people lived hundreds of years so marriage would last even longer, if people respected God's covenant for marriage.

Evil.

As the Rev. Wright might say, "The chickens have come home to roost!" Christianity Today has given the charismatics a pass for over four decades and bears a degree of culpability for the chronic scandals.

Where does Pat get these off the wall answers Certainly not from God.
Paul Hudgins

I'm sure that Pat might say a lot of good things but when he says something bad it's really bad. Such is the case here.

I have Huntington's disease, with demensia. A VERY LONG SLOW DEATH. I am dying ALONE. Alone except for Jesus Christ. I am absolutely outraged. Pat, you think people should die alone. After spending years loving and caring for the other person, one gets sick and you say it's OK, to pronounce them DEAD. UNTIL GOD CALLS THEM HOME, THEY ARE STILL ALIVE. YOU ARE NOT GOD AND HE HASN'T CALLED THEM YET!
I hope that you should yourself witness what it feels like to have demencia, Alzheimers, or the sort, I pray God shows you this and that he makes sure to witness what it feels like to do it alone.

@Merry, your comment speaks volumes and straight to the heart. Please know that you have many brothers and sisters who support you and do not agree with Robertson. My prayers are with you and all on here who are dealing with dementia in its many forms.

I am shocked and sickened. The next step in this line of logic would seem to be, "if the mind is already dead, why not help the process along and send the body after it?"

In a dying world in great need of Christ...I do not think this helps the cause in any way...hopefully you realize that by now...Really Pat. Let's bless the poor man's heartlessness and send him on his way because his lack of companionship is far more important than the crisis at hand. This man is treating his wife as if she has no trade in value on the purchase of a new car. Does a terminal illness suggest that you are no longer worthy of my loyalty? My promise to you? I t is a horrid disease and I have watched it steal away life just as cancer does and to think my wife would have to do this alone without her mate is unimaginable...just like previous comments we too are walking dead and no where in the bible did God ever say he would walk away from us..I believe he said I will never leave you or forsake you...May God bless you as you come to terms with the mistake you have made...

Typical fake Christian cherry picking the Bible and changing marriage vows around to suit his twisted views and money making needs. Pat Robertson should never be taken seriously, he's a phoney.

Pat, you were given the opportunity to speak about being Christ to the sick and demented, and the enabling power of Christ to carry us to victory through the worst circumstances.

Instead, you gave license to an embittered man to act out of his hardened heart, in seeking a divorce from a wife who no longer could minister to him.

Pat, you also gave license to every man sitting under the sound of your voice, to disregard the Word of God, and do whatever they think they need, in the area of sex. What moral authority do you think you still have to urge teens to abstinence until marriage?

What a horrible thing to say! This is not the first time he causes a conflict and contradiction with the word of God. I think he is the one suffering for Alzheimer's and it’s time for him to step down before he courses more imbursement to the ministry and the 700 club show.

Quick, Mrs. Robertson! Divorce your husband before it is too late for it is obvious he has AD himself. My dad just died from AD. My mom and I visited everyday and cherished every hour we spent together. He couldn't always say our names, but his eyes conveyed his love for us. He passed away 4 months shy of whatwould have been my parents' 70th wedding anniversary. He was the greatest man in my life ever, filled with Christ love for his family and everyone else. We were honored to hold him while he took his last breath and flew away with Jesus. Pat, you should be ashamed of yourself for such heresy. Jesus weeps to have heard such words from your mouth. Perhaps some hot coals are in order to burn away the trash in your heart and mouth. You are not a sweet aroma to Christ but a foul smelling thing, indeed.

"The shepherds have become stupid." -- Jeremiah 10:21

"My people have become lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray." -- Jeremiah 50:6

"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" -- Jeremiah 23:1

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." -- Isaiah 8:20

Time for Pat to repent for he is in deep darkness.

This is the most obsured and ridiculous and un-Christian thing I have ever heard or read. He should be ashamed of himself and I am ashamed that he calls himself a Christian and preaches to others on how to be a Christian. My parents have been married for 56 years. My father has Alzheimer's and my mother has cared for him for the last 2 years. He is currently in a nursing home and she is there day after day praying for him to come home. It's hard, it's tiring, it's brutal but for the man that was there for her and their family it's the least a true loving marriage can be.

Is the said Pat Roberstson a christian ? from what we hear of him in australia he seems to a populist merely saying things to get the headlines.

Not the love I find in the Song of Songs.

My mother had a difficult marriage to my father, which I did not always understand. She once told me: "Where there is no commitment, there is no love." Now that I am older, I comprehend. Love, to her, was giving, not getting, and endurance was the measure of its depth.

I realize that Alzheimer's is a terrible death sentence. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But there is more to "get" from a relationship than being recognized and appreciated by your life-long spouse. To care for a person in this circumstance is to affirm their dignity and your own. Jesus would not walk away.

SHAME ON PAT ROBERTSON!

JUST BECAUSE ONE HAS A NEED DOES NOT MEAN IT HAS TO BE MET. ONCE YOU CAN WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THIS CONCEPT, YOU WILL BECOME AN ADULT. I ASSUME AT THE CORE SITUATION DESCRIBED HERE IS THE FACT THAT THE HUSBAND'S SEXUAL NEEDS NOT BEING MET. IF YOUR SPOUSE CAN MEET ANY YOUR NEEDS, THAT IS WONDERFUL. HOWEVER WHEN LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT PERMIT THIS, YOUR HONOR AND THE OBLIGATION OF YOUR MARRIAGE VOWS TRUMPS ALL. MY HUSBAND DIED FROM TYPE 1 DIABETES. DURING OUR 25 YEAR MARRIAGE, I KEPT MY VOWS AS I WATCHED THE DISEASE TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY FROM HIM. OUR MARRIAGE VOWS DICTATE THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO LOVE. IT SHOULD NOT BE A CHOICE THAT WAVERS WHEN LIFE THROWS A DEVASTATING DISEASE IN OUR PATH.

Unbelievable.

Pat Robertson: you may need to step down from your role on the 700 Club. I can't believe you would even make such an absurd comment. We love you... but seriously?

You need to talk to the former president of Columbia International University (Robertson McQuilkin) who cared for his wife, Muriel, for over 20 years while she fought with Alzheimers. That, might friend, is what marriage is in the perfect sense of the word!

-@terracecrawford

I have lived in the Virginia Beach area where Robertson is headquartered all my life and he has had incredible influence on our local politics and social attitudes...all negative in my view.
But this outrageously callous statement has a silver lining since it will probably be the final straw for him and his organization.
I once saw him in a local, fairly posh Italian restaurant saying a blessing with an elderly woman wearing lots of diamond jewelry. I always wondered what happened to that jewelry! Ah! Thank God for Prosperity Evangelism!
I am a proud gay man in a 31-year monogamous relationship. My partner and I have endured Robertson's hateful lies about us and our gay brothers and sisters all our lives. The thought of abandoning each other under ANY circumstances is an unthinkable concept to us. Yet our commitment to each other is vilified by Robertson's version of religion.
We know without a doubt that our love for each other was part of God's plan. I sure wish all Christians could recognize that truth.

I certainly hope the Christian community is organized enough, and united enough, to formally confront Pat Robertson with a letter of rebuke signed by several true Christians who are committed to the sanctity of marriage. Whether Christians will really stand up to this outrageous claim remains to be seen.

Of all the idiotic things Pat has uttered through the years, this is the FIRST time I agree with him!
Of course it depends on the actual severity of the disease, but if all hope is gone and there is no chance of partial recovery, (the patient being "like dead", does allow an out.
There are no winners here, only losers and SEVERE losers!

I saw the program (which probably most of you who have commented DIDN'T), and altho I don't agree with Pat on this issue, I DO understand the context of the original question that was asked, and the heartbreaking issues involved.

But what bothers me more ... is the HATE expressed in the comments here--supposedly by Christians, but your words of hate belie your position in Christ. Perhaps those of you who call Pat such awful names, don't know the implications of what scripture says about yourselves. Probably it's not the original issue here that makes you express your hate, as much as your seizing the chance to give your opinion of Pat?

When you have reached as much of the world's surface with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as this man has ... maybe you can think about saying something "constructive". But until then, you need to think about what the scriptures say about your attitude toward a man of God.

Pat who?!

Seriously, who cares what people like this think?!

The bible is clear on this issue as well as any other that comes up. Its not if you agree with pat. Its if what pat is saying is biblical. It is not. Pat reminds me of a passege that speaks of a wolf dressed in sheeps clothing, he decieves for his his own gain. Talking about the blind leading the blind.

PAT ROBERTSON'S STATEMENT TRULY WOUNDS THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN BILLY GRAHAM'S MESSAGES OF GOD, YOU NEVER HEARD HIM IGNORE A SINGLE SCRIPTURE, OR TRY CHANGE THEIR MEANING. "UNTIL DEATH" MEANS EXACTLY WHAT GOD MEANS. NO MAN HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE GOD'S HOLY WORD. INJURING THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT ALLOWED BY GOD AT ANY TIME. GOD WOULD NEVER ABANDON A PERSON HE LOVES! NEITHER SHOULD WE EVER ABANDON OUR LOVED ONES!
NOLAN

I am not even a "Christian" but I am appalled by his statement. What ever happened to marriage vows, and the part about 'and in sickness and in health". It is particularly amazing for a right wing "moral" preacher who holds himself above most persons, to say something like this..

The person you should be angry with is the spouse who wants to divorce his wife because of her illness. If he's not a Christian, then she may be better off divorced from him. He sounds like a miserable man for even taking such action. I think Pat Robertson is also a victim of this "Bring It On" question. Praying for you, Pat Robertson. I suggest they read 1 Corinthians 7 as well for another opinion on marriage.

The media love personalities like Pat Robertson. They can simply put a camera in front of them just to see what kooky thing they will say next--and it will make news.

What God says is what we need to obey, not mere preferences or speculations of people. And those known as teachers need to be very circumspect about their recommendations.

Psa_119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, For Thy testimonies are my meditation.

Jas_3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.

2Pe_2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

2Ti_4:3,4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

.

Well, Well,... What can I say that has not been said?

Just another big flub by Mr. Robertson!

The caller probably was the "OTHER WOMAN"!

.

This is what you get when a pastor is not accountable to an independent group of elders (unfortunately, generally the case with televangelists)

When the earthquake hit Robertson was claiming Haiti entered a pact with the devil when there's no credible historical evidence for that vicious rumor.

I have the feeling one day he will be enthusiastically endorsing the Protocols of the Elders of Zion on the 700 Club.

Mr Robertson, with all due respect.... stick to the word of God and not to what appears to be convenient or expedient for the moment. If God took the same approach you just tried to justify for someone with a spouse with Alzheimer's, the would any of us have a chance of remaining in relationship with the Lord. Thankfully, God is a "covenant keeping God" and by His grace, we are to be a "covenant keeping people." And, this means remaining faithful and stedfast even in the face of what seems to be unfair and unjust. Where there is a need, as we trust in the Lord, He does give grace (divine enablement) to live victoriously in the midst of every situation. May God grant you the gift of repentance that bears the fruit of repentance... remember your voice carries weight with man people and you will be held accountable for every idle word.

Mr. Robertson, I don't know if you believe in divine healing through
instant miraculous inervention by God, or through corrective process, but i most certainly do. Jesus performed several healings during his earthly ministry. Surprisingly, the advise you gave recently negates all of that. NIot only have you scarred deeply the institution of marriage, but you have also inflicted heavy damage to the doctrine of divine healing. What might be your explanation if the Lord chose to intervene and heal this individual from his or her disease? In summary, for all that has been accomplished through your ministry it is disturbing to hear you now speak like one who has no faith. Have we been decieved again?

Again Mr Robertson shows his true colors.
He has advocated killing the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, he claimed that Haitians made a pact with the Devil, he has prophesied many times things that did not happen, he promotes buying gold (watched this myself on his program), and he has claimed that his "miracle" shake has given him a long healthy life.
GOD gave him a long healthy life.

Is Mr Pat Robertson really a man of GOD?

I am shocked at such comments. What will Jesus say to him when He returns?

Scripture has several criteria for identifying a false prophet. Here are two. First, a false prophet makes false predictions (Deut. 18:21-22). Robertson falsely predicted in 1976 that the world would end in Oct. or Nov. or 1982. He stated, "I guarantee you by the end of 1982 there is going to be a judgment on the world." In May 2006, Robertson predicted storms and a possible declared tsunami would hit America's coastline sometime in 2006. There are more false prophecies listed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson

Second, a false prophet teaches false docrine (Deut. 13:1-5). We have just heard Mr. Robertson teach divorce is permissible for convenience sake if a spouse is disabled by Alzheimers's Disease. Marriage was instituted by God at creation Gen. 2:18-25). Malachi 2:15-16 says, "So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth . .. I hate divorce."

Based upon the authority of Scripture, Mr. Robertson is a false prophet and we are to have nothing to do with him. Let's wake up, CHURCH! We need to repent for not having rejected him earlier!

Pat Robertson has lost his mind, the 700 club should separate themselves from him, this would be humerous if it was not so sad.

It is scares me that someone who should know better has sunk this low. Pat Robertson has not stopped to consider the folly of his view given the variety of difficult scenarios that exist in relationships with diseases besides Alzheimer. How would people in other less priviledged parts of the world take his unfortunate comment. How do we deal with the issue in a country with a large Islmaic population where we are trying to advance the one man- one wife Biblical model ?

May Pat Robertson repent for the careless comment he made about caring for an ailing spouse so God does not have to correct him. The scariest part is that the Bible tells us "out of the mouth come the issues of the heart"
also the following verse should be a wakeup call, and it does not even refer to a marriage partner or the VOWS that a person takes during marriage
1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
How much more responsibility would a person have toward their spouse than to just the other memberes of their family.
May the people that support him realize their money is bringing a reproach on the name of CHRISTianity and would glorfy God if sown elsewhere.

I find Pat Roberson's comment appalling. As a brother in Christ, I am embarrassed for him and the Church of Jesus Christ. I believe it is time for him and his program to cease broadcasting.

I am shocked at Pat Robinson's negative statements re: Alzheimer's Disease. I am the wife and caregiver to my husband who is in his final stage of Alzheimer's. I can't do enough for him because of my love for him and my love and trust in the Lord. My husband is 81 years old. Not only does he have Alzheimer's but he also has End Stage Renal Disease and receives Dialysis M-W-F for 3.5 hours, Has had bilateral hip replacements, Open heart surgery (triple Bypass), Prostate Cancer which is in remission. He is an amazing person who knows the Lord for himself and is doing very well with minimal assistance. We must keep them busy and active to prevent the brain from atrophying further or faster. We attend church faithfully and enjoy our lives to the fullest. The bottom line is that it could be "Me". This disease has no "Age, Race, or Gender. I totally disagree with Pat Robinson's statement. I felled to mention that my husband is 17 years older than me. We have been married 13 year and we are very happy together and have excellent family and friends support. I will not give up and hope that others will do the same.

I TOTALLY AGREE with Pat's decision. Most commenters do not know
from reall life experiences. My brother, a very active, exercising,
walking, meeting wtih other retirees, working on son-in-laws' farm,
a really young 80-year-old, married to a lovely woman since they were both 18 yrs. old, a christian and totally loyal to his wedding vows. She was a great mother, but always sedentary, not interested
in anything after her kids left. From Dementia she went into full-blown Altzheimers. He went into the assisted living homes with her, then nursing home. NONSENSE ! ! ! Now, he'll probably die before her! ! ! He should have gone on with his life and let the NURSING homes do their job and take care of her. Now, he is unhealthy, overweight, no exercise excet walking her to meals. YOU GO, PAT ! ! ! YOU ARE RIGHT ! ! ! If not a divorce, at least a life outside the nursing home.

It's very simple.

In the Christian faith, divorce from a Christian marriage does not, as a spiritual reality, EXIST.

It's not that one can't re-marry if an unbeliever divorces you for being a Christian. In that case, the unbelief of the spouse means that there was not a Christian marriage to begin with.

But a Christian marriage is permanent because it is a great mystery, mirroring the marriage of Christ to His church. And Christ does not separate from His church even when she sometimes is unfaithful to Him. Even when she withdraws from Him, He refuses to abandon her and find another partner.

This is why Christians may not remarry after (civil) divorce from a Christian spouse. The fact that the civil law says the couple is no longer married is irrelevant: As a spiritual reality, they are still married.

This is why a person who remarries after separating from a Christian spouse "commits adultery." He is not allowed to remarry, because his first marriage, in God's eyes, never ended.

And it is why Jesus stated that a man who divorces his wife (in 1st century Palestine) "forces" her to become an adulteress: For of course unmarried women in that age could really not support themselves, and must either remarry, or fall into prostitution, or starve.

It is clear from these passages, then, that Christian marriage is a permanent spiritual reality. That is what the gospel says, and that is what all commentary on the topic from the Church Fathers who were closest, in time and in culture, to the authors of the gospels, states.

That some in the 21st century post-Christian West can't see this owes somewhat to the fact that they are widely separated from the gospel authors in time and culture, and thus encounter interpretative difficulties.

But it owes more to the sexual confusion and hedonism and unwillingness to suffer for Christ's sake of our debauched and comfortable watered-down Christianity.

I don't mean to say that Pat Robertson is debauched or hedonistic or sexually confused! But he is a man, a fallible teacher, with many limitations and weaknesses (as he himself would acknowledge) and he has, in this instance, been influenced by our culture into a level of error which would have astonished the early Christians. They would probably think him a Nicolaitan, for saying this kind of thing.

For he is certainly wrong. The plain sense of Jesus' teaching is against him, and of Paul's, and of the Church Fathers throughout the whole early period. Even before the New Testament canon was yet fixed, Christians had already written against the notion of Christian remarriage. Orthodoxy is hard: The road is hard, the gate narrow.

"Blessed is he who does not turn away on account of Me."

One other comment:

"e.raines" says that he agrees with Robertson's stance, and argues "reall [sic] life experiences," saying that a person who knew how tough it was to be married to someone with Alzheimer's would agree with Robertson.

I daresay he's mostly right: Some of us are so faithless that, when the road gets hard, we turn away. Look at how many of Jesus' disciples -- folks who'd recently seen Him feed the 5,000! -- reacted to Jesus' "hard teaching" saying that those who ate His flesh and drank His blood would have life in them, and He would raise them up on the last day!

But notice that this doesn't address the issue of whether Christ commands us to remain married, or permits divorce and remarriage, at all.

As a syllogism, this argument goes like this:

P1: To remain married to one's spouse after the spouse has Alzheimer's is hard.

P2: Jesus would never ask us to do anything hard.

C: Therefore, one is free to remarry after one's spouse has Alzheimer's.

All sane people would agree with Premise 1.

But no one who has read the New Testament could plausibly agree with Premise 2.

Therefore the argument is not valid.

So let us not bother to respond to all these complaints about how hard it is to remain faithful to one's spouse (and to Christ!) after Alzheimer's sets in. We grant that; we stipulate it.

But it doesn't matter. Christ commands what He commands. He is Lord, or He isn't.

I don't have confidence in myself, by the way: I may, if this ever happens to me, turn out to be ever so faithless. Rather than continue to make Jesus my Lord, I may, when pressed into such difficulties, fall into sin.

So I do not pretend to any great holiness, here. My Lord is faithful; I know from past experience that my faithfulness to Him is shaky. It is not from self-righteousness that I am arguing. But my predisposition to sin, my weakness in the faith, is not at issue here. We're talking about Christ's commands, not my fitful and inconsistent record at keeping them.

And we can be gentle understanding with those who have fallen into sin. We can agree with them that the circumstances are difficult. We can take a non-condemnatory tone-of-voice with them. We can try to console them.

But we can NOT say that it is not sin to abandon one's spouse for another. We can be gentle, we can be gracious: We cannot be dishonest and unfaithful.

It is hard to do what Jesus asks.

He still asks it.

I was very upset when I heard Mr. Robertson's remarks about divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer's Disease. Well then, looks like Mrs. Robertson can go ahead and file for divorce because her husband seems to have lost his mind! Does he not remember the Christian wedding vows to love and cherish in sickness and in health til death do us part? Thank you for showing the example of a truly great husband and man of God in Robertson McQuilkin.

Always knew he was a fraud.
I will stay by my girl til death us do part. I love her. She needs me.

Let God be God, and let Pat be Pat!

Wow! How sad. I think Mr. Robertson is way off track here. The loving careing people out there taking care of spouses, please hang in there.God loves you and so do I.

What would Jesus do ? This is the question I always ask myself when I'm facing issues or confusion. And definitely , I know Jesus would never divorce a sick wife. He proved it already !

Even if you don't agree with this man, I think we need to be careful not to be so condemning in our own responses to this issue. He spoke from experience. His answer was based on the emotions he felt, how can you fault someone for their personal opinion? Of course we would prefer that he be responsible with his words and that they line up with the Word of God... but can you be certain everything you have ever said in public would hold up under the same scroutiny? And though it may not line up perfectly with "till death do you part" that is not specifically found written that way in the Bible. It is from the "Book of Common Prayer". There are scriptures that deal with the permanency of the bond of marriage just as there are verses that deal with the issue of divorce. Pat Robertson took a large risk to speak from the heart on this topic, and I think we shouldn't be wishing him out of a job, or taking our comments too far. Where is someone who has walked out this particular cross? Where are those of you who have been married for 40+ years and are facing losing your spouse to Alzheimer's? What is your opinion, please?

Shannon, I am addressing Pat Robertson's false teaching as well as the fact, that we are told to be married until "death do us part." I don't mean this in a rude way whatsoever, I am just a usually concise, and kind of blunt writer, and I am not writing with any hate or dislike, I am simply trying to explain my opinion. I'm not a great writer, and am using Bible verses to explain why I believe you are incorrect in my viewpoint, which I think is biblical. If people don't believe in following the Bible, then we just all have many millions of opinions, and nobody is more correct than anyone else.

I don't know how you can imply that we should treat Pat Robertson as an ordinary man giving his opinion, and also that the Bible does not say or imply that marriage is for a lifetime. It is indeed found in the Bible. It can't be any clearer than this, and obviously wedding vows often used today came from the 19th chapter of Matthew, in the KJV. It also makes perfectly clear that Jesus intended marriage to be between a man and a woman, and has since the earth began. Here is from Matt 19:
"And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." For those who do not know, "suffered" in the KJV means allowed. So, it's very obvious that Robertson was not being biblical, and it makes no difference how "great" a man some may think he is. God did not allow false prophesiers to live, and Pat has said many false prophecies. He may appear wonderful to some, but according to Galatians chapter 1, and many other places, he may be eternally condemned, because of his "prophecies" like him saying that God has told him that a terrorist attack on the United States would cause a mass killing late in 2007. That's just one, and in both the old testament it would have caused him to be put to death. In the New Testament, it says false teachers will have greater judgment in James 1. These are not my words, but God's words. Satan and demons are not in little red suits, they are not obvious, they in fact, may appear as angels of light. That's why we're repeatedly warned to watch for false prophets and false teachings, especially in the end times. To keep saying he is a great man despite what God says about these things, is to be blind to God's word. God's word is what should matter to us, please take the blinders off before it's too late. Demons aren't going to look or sound horrible, they are going to try and look like followers of God. The Bible says that these things would occur, so as to even fool the elect, if that were possible. It's not possible to fool the elect, but if you are fooled, I'd change churches and start reading the Bible carefully and slowly, every day, really understanding what it is teaching, rather than turning on the stupid tv. In Mark 13, it says "for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance." For those who say the tribulation occurred in AD70, the Gospel was not taught throughout the world until these days, and "a great trial that comes upon the whole world" in Rev 3:10, has not occurred yet. We're to read the Bible literally unless it's clearly metaphor, and these are not metaphors. Today, with missionaries, and Christian radio and television throughout the world, the end times may indeed be near. There has never yet been a trial that came upon the whole world as described in Rev 3:10, but it's clear that it may come at any time. We don't need to be told what it "really means" to fit some people's eschatology, it's clear from reading what it really means, and it hasn't happened yet.

In Matt 24 it says Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. This prophecy is being fulfilled in our time, and was not previously. Bibles are still being translated into many languages all the time. The gospel is still being preached where it has never been heard until now.

Here is more on marriage, in case somehow, someone needs more than what Jesus said previously, note, it says, "the husband shall not divorce his wife."
It doesn't matter if the person calling is an unbeliever. He called up Pat Robertson, who tries or pretends to try to represent the Christian viewpoint. If he wanted the view from his barber, he could have asked his barber. But he called Pat, who is supposed to be representing God.
1Cor 7:10 "But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. "
Rom 7:2 "For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man."

1Cor 7:39 "A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord."

Titus 1:5-7"... thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. "

And as for those who defend Pat Robinson, and other tv "preachers", people need to be reminded that the Bible says teachers are held to a higher standard. (James 3:1) These verses seem to apply quite well in describing the false preachers of today, with their own airplanes, etc., while begging the poor widows to send "some dollar amount" to further build up their own riches. Luke 20: 44-46 " And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive *greater* condemnation.” Even 2,000 years ago, the false preachers didn't mind robbing poor widows to become even more wealthy than they were.

"Alzheimers a kind of death"
Only metaphorically and that doesn't count.
Alzheimers is a dying and that is true of life in general.
By not condemning people who choose to abandon a sick spouse Mr. Robertson is rightly saying he will not judge them--I think. But he doesn't get to judge them anyway; he does not have the power to condemn anyone.
But what he seems to be doing is putting his stamp of approval on the abandonment. This is different than accepting that it happens...that some people will do it and loving them anyway.
I find the position he is taking on this sickening. I am truly shocked by it.
It seems that he is saying divorce is a better choice than adultery. He is allowing for a pesron to divorce so that they can have a relationship with someone else--since their spouse is no longer capable of a full partnered relationship of both give and take.

So is divorce the lesser evil when compared to Biblical adultery? I guess one is in the commandments and the other is not. But then Biblically, remarriage is not allowed after a divorce unless the original spouse has died; so Mr. Robertson is actually approving of both divorce and adultery.

Why make vows if you aren't going to keep them?
This attitude of MR. Roberston's is truly appalling.

Mr. Robertson I was disgusted at the comment made. When I married my husband the vow stated in sickness and health for better for worse. I feel sorry for your wife should she become ill. You do not view marriage as God does. The ill person is helpless and you just leave them the person you are supposed to love until death do you part!

I'm surprised that so many of you are surprised by Robertson's comments. He has preached "another" gospel than the one preached by Paul his entire life. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing, always has been.

This is why I worship in the comfort of my own home with my family. There are so many people in organized religion who may, for the most part, be a positive influence on my walk, but I've witnessed so much negativity, that I won't have my faith and understanding shaken by other people. So, while people are trying to push an 84 year old pastor out to get a younger following, condemning that pastor for remarrying after his wife of 60+ years passed, who judge the transgressions of others while ignoring their own, Pat Robertson does nothing but reinforce my choice.

Okay, here's an agnostic's viewpoint. I think that Mr. Robertson is both correct and missing the ball at the same time.

I agree that we have to have just as much compassion for the non-ill mate as for the ill one. I watched an angel of a woman care for my dad, in home, every single day for the last five years of his life. He was completely helpless. I could only wish to find, to even merit, a mate like that for myself. However, after seeing what the sacrifice did to her I wish he'd died 4 1/2 years earlier than he did. My father was already gone by that time and it would have spared this woman years of agony.
After having witnessed that, my personal view is that I will roll my own self off a cliff if I ever seem to be going that way. I do NOT want anyone that I love to go through what she did because of me. I am at great risk of Alzheimer and will probably succumb to it myself if I live that long.

So from that point of view, with the caveat that the ill loved one is no longer "in the world" and adequate care is still provided, I wouldn't condemn someone for leaving. I don't think I could do it, but I wouldn't condemn someone else. Something else you might ask yourselves: Is the offense of adultery and dishonesty worse than the offense of divorce and abandonment? I wouldn't know, at least not in a scriptural sense, but that seems to be part of the point Mr. Robertson was trying to make.

Here's why I believe he's dead wrong. I was raised Christian. I've read the King James and other versions and know my Christianity well enough to have some idea of what the Christ said was right and wrong. Mr. Robertson's opinion is antiscriptural. There is no way to justify what he said from anything within the book he claims to follow. Not that I know of. It's the same problem I have with gay priests and preachers and others who constantly seem to find (often self-serving) exceptions to the law of the god they claim to serve. Snip a little here, a little there and at what point do you stop being what you claim to be? Hypocrites annoy me. Anyone who is a leader of any kind in the Christian community and claims to lead from the book, yet who does his faith cafeteria-style is a hypocrite more annoying than most. At least to me.

Who amongst us is strong enough to follow every rule in that book to the letter? Who has done so? I don't believe a compassionate god would expect perfection from anyone he loves. But I think he would hold a person who is a leader in his community to a much higher standard.
Mr. Robertson is a leader, in effect the head of a church, with worldwide exposure and followers. If he professes to be a Christian he should act like one and more importantly not mislead people who come to him for Christian advice. He's one of the most self-righteous and obnoxious people I can think of. But if I were a Christian I would consider him to be not just obnoxious but dangerous, because so many people listen to him. Every time he reinvents scripture I hope you people hold his feet to the fire.

Note* I'm not a homophobe. My problem with gay priests is with the hypocrisy, not the sexual preference.

Mr. Robertson you need to get down on your knees for your remarks concerning Alzheimer's and ask God's forgiveness. This is the most callus, cynical remark I have ever heard from a supposedly Christian.

You are delusional if you think God would condone this action of moving on in a case of Alzheimer's of a spouse. I will pray for you.

Pam Collier

I agree with Pat Robertson. I am in a situation with my husband that I never thought could happen. He was angry, abysive and alcoholic and I was ready to leave him for my own safety but before I could go, he had a stroke. I have stayed with him for three years taking care of him day and night. He is partly paralyzed and has dementia as a result of the stroke. It is a second marriage. I agreed before we married to give up any interest in his wealth. I signed a prenuptial agreement because he wanted to leave everything to his family. Well, my source of income is gone because I had to give up my work to be sole caregiver of an invalid - my abusive husband. It is hell. I have no life of my own and no money. I have no access to his money. I will inherit nothing when he finally dies, which could be years. I have been unable to save for my own retirement and future medical care since he's been sick. He is still angry and abusive. I will feel no guilt when I am finally able to divorce him. I want his family, to whom he is leaving everything, to step up to the plate and look after him. He hasn't been the person I married for years. I cannot do this any more. I want friends and to be able to get out of the house and freedom from his anger. I deserve a life. I don't believe God wants us to give up the only life we have in service to someone like my husband.