Abstract
The Church and its ministers are frequently reluctant to concern themselves with the alcoholic, but it is still to the priest or minister that the alcoholic and his family often turn. Knowing the suffering of the family the minister may wish to condemn the alcoholic and have nothing to do with him, especially as he sometimes comes to him to avoid going to alcoholic centres and counsellors. The minister who wishes to help in this situation must learn counselling techniques himself, must learn to know when he cannot cope by himself but needs professional services, must have patience and be willing to listen and not to condemn; he may not be able to solve the problem, but he can try to establish a caring relationship and this can ultimately lead to a solution. Parishioners should also be encour aged to help.
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