Alkoholizm zagrożeniem dla życia rodzinnego : studium na podstawie świadectw słuchaczy radiowej „godziny różańcowej” o. Justyna Figasa

The article was based on letters written by listeners, Polish immigrants, to “The Rosary Hour” – the world’s oldest Catholic radio program in Polish in the United States and Canada. The publication shows the dire influence of alcohol on the mental, moral and material life of families. The listeners wrote, among others, about the problem of alcohol abuse by fathers, mothers or both parents. On the basis of correspondence, one can imagine their homes being miserable places where insults, curses and child abuse reign supreme. Drunkenness is the cause of aggression towards wives, husbands and children and can further cause anxiety, uncertainty, hatred, mental breakdown, divorce and material poverty. Fr. Justin Figas, in his instructions, indicated how to overcome the addiction of drunkenness. He called for prayer, fasting and the vow of sobriety. He advised to seek help from the parish priest, report alcoholism to the police and to refer the compulsive drunkard for compulsory treatment. The priest’s indications and catechesis were effective: they changed the alcoholic and motivated them to live in sobriety.