What comes to mind when you think of addiction? Before you continue reading, take a moment to reflect. Say the word “addiction” again, this time out loud. Enter into your imagination and allow any words or images to surface. What do you observe with your mind’s eye? Do you see a particular type of person or people? Do you envision certain behaviors or locations? Notice any feelings that arise as you imaginatively encounter these figures, behaviors, and situations.

I’ll be happy to concede if I am wrong. Still, I think I can say with certainty that the majority of responses likely did not include words like Church, the faithful, religious, etc. The figures that surfaced probably did not appear as the elderly church lady next to you at Mass or the priest offering that Mass. You likely did not imagine the parent or grandparent of your child’s best friend in PREP or the young woman who once was an altar server. The behaviors may not have included eating, shopping, gambling, gaming, cell phone, Internet addictions, or someone taking medications prescribed by their doctors. The locations you envisioned were probably far from the pews of your parish, and the feelings that arose were perhaps a bit uncomfortable.

If you’re confused or even angered by my implications, you are not alone. Yet, my imagination did not conjure up the previous paragraph. The responses came from many years of experience educating about addiction and advocating for the addicted right within our churches. Too many have come forth sharing stories of shame because they believe they are alone in their suffering. They think the Church is filled with perfect, holy people far removed from such human tendencies. Yet it is precisely because of our human tendencies that we need God’s grace. Isn’t this one reason why we attend Mass? Jesus came because we need a savior, every one of us, no matter how many Masses we attend or Bible studies we organize or participate in. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

As they learn about the complexities of addiction and realize that they are not alone, the aforementioned faithful people have come forth to share their stories. I met that elderly woman next to you at Mass. She has been in recovery from addiction for about 30 years, like the priest offering the Mass, or the man who leads the choir in another parish. I’ve met the parents of a girl who was once an altar server. They are devastated, frightened, and alone in their suffering as their daughter battles with severe addiction. I’ve spoken with the grandfather who became addicted to the drugs he was prescribed after minor surgery and the loving, faithful husband who lost the family’s home because of his gambling addiction. I’ve heard stories from religious nuns who told of the angst they suffered as their sister nuns became addicted to alcohol, and I have experienced this angst as addiction has wreaked havoc upon my family.

Many Church documents have been written throughout the decades calling us to be concerned about this topic and to respond with educational and pastoral programs. Yet I consistently witness a complete avoidance of the issue, as if it does not belong in our churches alongside Bible studies or other programs that are presumed to be holier or more important. Jesus warned the Pharisees against such behavior: “'Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others” (Matthew 23:23).

If we are concerned with the salvation of souls, then we are concerned about addiction. If we open our eyes, ears, and hearts to see and hear the suffering around us, then we know that (of course) it exists in our churches because our churches are filled with human beings. If we want to imitate Jesus and comfort and heal the afflicted by his grace, especially this Jubilee Year of Hope, then we will come out of the bubble of our comfortable faith and into the real challenge that Jesus is calling us to — bringing mercy, healing, and hope to the hopeless. They are all around us.

(Not sure where to begin? AFIRE can help you start with a free educational/inspirational video series. Click HERE to learn more. You might want to begin by sharing quotes from some of the Church documents with your pastor. You can download them HERE.)