Rev. Turner:

Hi my name is Tammy and I am a recovering Alcoholic and Catholic. My suffering was by judgment. I felt this way since I was 5. I drank for 20 years and by A.A. I took my first step into a Christian service and I was shocked that most of the fellowship love and understand me. I can always use a little help here and there for I live with AIDS and need all the love I can get.

Sincerely,
Tammy

Dear Tammy,

My heart and prayers go out to you in your recovery from alcohol. However, what judgment are you talking about? God did not make you an alcoholic. The disease of alcoholism is either a genetic function passed on to us from family members or we have personalities that set us up for abusing alcohol as a way of dealing with issues that disturb us. Remember, your recovery is based on the knowledge that only God can put sanity back into your life. That is not judgment. That is redemption and grace. When you give control of your life to God sanity and growth type living occurs regardless of your sexuality or gender identification. You continue in recovery because of God's unconditional love, grace and reconciliation, not because you have God's angry judgment.

You are in my prayers for a long and wonderful recovery. I also pray that God's hand of healing would continue to be upon you in your fight with AIDS.

God Bless,

Pastor Paul