Cardinal  Felipe Arizmendi , Bishop Emeritus of San Cristóbal de Las Casas and responsible for the Doctrine of the Faith at the  Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM) , offers Exaudi readers his article.

FACTS

Many years ago, in Chiapas, a young woman confided in me that she was involved with drugs and wanted to get off them, but the leaders threatened her, saying that if she left, she would face the consequences, both for herself and her family, including murder. Finally, she managed to escape and told me that she fell into that world first to experience what it felt like, then for pleasure, and then for profit, since they made good money selling drugs. How difficult it is to leave that world! Especially when you’re trapped by your own addiction or by the business it represents. Two of our seminarians, who were studying at a public high school, were being forced to sell drugs at the school itself; we had to intervene with the teachers so they would take action. They were freed from that pressure.

In many places, there are what are called “rehab centers,” where hundreds of young people and adults addicted to alcohol or drugs are in recovery. Some leave after several months and remain sober; but others relapse because their inner wounds run deep. A group of priests in Toluca has long run a rehabilitation center to help those who have fallen into these addictions. There are thousands of stories of all kinds.

A very common addiction is excessive alcohol consumption, and this applies to women as well. These are hardworking and responsible people at home, but they also have deep needs, such as being recognized by others who share the same inclination, or simply enjoying the company of others who form a so-called group of friends, or compensating for insecurities and frustrations; they also say it’s a way to relax from the many responsibilities and problems they face.

Another more recent addiction is excessive dependence on screens, whether televisions, cell phones, tablets, or other modern devices. Knowing how to use them, as they have great advantages, is one thing; becoming enslaved by them is quite another.

LIGHTNING

Pope Leo, in a meeting with members of CELAM, the OAS, and Pontifical Dicasteries, stated:  “Addictions are a complex phenomenon that reveals the failure of a dehumanized world. The suffering of young people demands comprehensive responses: community prevention, scientific care, justice with a human face, and close pastoral accompaniment. Our contribution must be directed toward care, presence, and the rebuilding of the community fabric.”

I am pleased to note how, in this meeting, four bridges converge, representing as many avenues of collaboration in this field. 

The first bridge is between the Church and international organizations, since no one can face the drug problem alone. The second bridge is between science and faith. The third bridge is within the Church as it journeys across the continents. The fourth bridge is ecumenical.

But allow me to pause for a moment on an institution that runs through all aspects of our work: the family. The family, which the  Second Vatican Council  aptly called the “domestic church,” is the place where life is nurtured, cared for, and nurtured. There is no better prevention against drugs than a good family.

Today, we witness the pain of many broken families, whether due to drug use, violence, the recruitment of a child into criminal organizations, poverty, or a lack of opportunities that push them to the side of the road.  Saint John Paul II  asked us to make the Church “the home and school of communion.” And Pope Francis reminded us that Jesus wants us to “touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others.” Herein lies the core of the mission you carry out: that the Church be a family, especially including those who suffer.

Finally, I would like to express a wish: that the Church may be the family of all those who have been left behind. Like the Samaritan, who became a neighbor to the fallen man, let us not pass by; let us build a Church that stops, draws near, is moved, anoints wounds, feeds, and becomes a home”  (August 27, 2026).

ACTIONS

Instead of simply belittling, judging, and offending those who have fallen into any of these forms of enslavement, let us strive to discover the cause of their addictions. Perhaps they haven’t received the appreciation and affection we all need within their own families. Perhaps they carry very deep wounds in their souls, perhaps from their childhood. Perhaps they are burdened with emotional complexes that lead them to seek refuge in these momentary comforts. Let us not only condemn them. Let us try to give them respectful attention and offer them the appropriate means for their liberation.