Pat Robertson says Alzheimer’s makes divorce OK

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FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 file picture, Rev. Pat Robertson talks to attendees at a prayer breakfast as part of inaugural ceremonies for Virginia Gov.-elect Bob Mcdonnell at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. The religious broadcaster says harsh penalties for marijuana possession are costly for the nation and damaging to young people. But a spokesman says he is not calling for decriminalizing pot. The spokesman said Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010. that Robertson made the comments on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “700 Club” in the context of faith-based approaches to treating offenders. (AP Photo/Clem Britt, File)

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson told his “700 Club” viewers that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s is justifiable because the disease is “a kind of death.”

During the portion of the show where the one-time Republican presidential candidate takes questions from viewers, Robertson was asked what advice a man should give to a friend who began seeing another woman after his wife started suffering from the incurable neurological disorder.

“I know it sounds cruel, but if he’s going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her,” Robertson said.

The chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, which airs the “700 Club,” said he wouldn’t “put a guilt trip” on anyone who divorces a spouse who suffers from the illness, but added, “Get some ethicist besides me to give you the answer.”

Terry Meeuwsen, Robertson’s co-host, asked him about couples’ marriage vows to take care of each other “for better or for worse” and “in sickness and in health.”

“If you respect that vow, you say ‘til death do us part,’” Robertson said during the Tuesday broadcast. “This is a kind of death.” AP

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