Earlier this month, Pat Robertson made news when he counseled a man whose wife was suffering with Alzheimer’s to divorce her.
Robertson has conveniently been away from The 700 Club since making those statement but he returned today and took the opportunity to attempt to “clarify” his previous statement, insisting that his previous statement had been “misunderstood” and “misinterpreted”:
Robertson: Before we take questions, I think it’s time – I’ve been gone for about a week or so while you all were doing this telethon and before I left … I want to say I envy the Catholic priests because when they have somebody in confession, it’s all kept secret. When I have somebody asking me for advice, it spreads worldwide and its misunderstood. But I’ve got to clarify because I’ve been misinterpreted and I’ve got to clarify.
I had a question from somebody … who had a friend, the wife was terminal essentially, had gone to the last stages of Alzheimer’s, was in a home and he’s committing adultery. So basically I’m saying adultery is not a good thing and you might as well straighten your life out and the only way to do it is ti kind of get your affair with your wife in order. I wasn’t giving a general teaching for the world and I’ve been interpreted … you know, I have a wife …
[Robertson then details how he and his wife have stuck by one another through their various health problems.]
I mean, we expect that. We love each other and of course you are with your wife or your husband when they’re sick. Good grief, yes. That’s the way we should do, and we expect it … but I was not giving advice for the whole world, nor was I counseling anybody to be unscriptural and leave their spouse.
[Robertson then recounts friends who have had to deal with a spouse with Alzheimer’s.]
It’s heart-rending so, in any event, please know I believe the Bible, please know that I never would tell anybody to leave their sick spouse. I never, never would say such a thing because I need my spouse when I get sick and she needs me when she gets sick. In sickness and in health, I believe it!
Of course, Robertson did in fact counsel this man to leave his sick spouse and we have the original video to prove it:
