COMMENTARY: Time for Pat Robertson to Retire as a Televangelist

Pat Robertson -- the popular American televangelist -- last week advised a viewer of the "700 Club" TV program to avoid putting a "guilt trip" on those who want to divorce a spouse with Alzheimer's disease.

During the show's advice segment, Robertson -- in answering a viewer's question about a husband's relationship with another woman because his wife has Alzheimer's -- said he would not fault anyone for doing this. Robertson then added that it would be understandable to divorce a wife who had Alzheimer's, in order to remarry another woman.

Robertson's advice on this matter shocked millions of Americans -- including many clergy -- who believe that marriage is a lifelong commitment "in sickness and in health... till death do us part," as the marriage vow states.

Robertson should have known better than to have recommended divorce and remarriage because a spouse has Alzheimer's disease. Does he not know that his advice clearly contradicts the Word of God in the Holy Gospel?

Of course he does. He tries to justify his recommendation by saying that Alzheimer's disease is "like death," in that the person who has it may not even recognize his or her own spouse.

This is not the first time that Robertson's views have resulted in controversy and condemnation. For example, his response to the 2010 severe earthquake in Haiti -- that Haitians were "cursed" by God -- also resulted in much criticism from Christian theologians.

Moreover, Robertson's blaming the people of New Orleans for hurricane Katrina, and blaming Americans for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks shocked many Americans.

Indeed, Robertson -- a former Southern Baptist minister -- has taken some strange views on several recent events. His view last week on divorce and remarriage for a husband whose wife has Alzheimer's disease is contrary to Christian doctrine. This view can be considered the straw that broke the camel's back, insofar as Robertson's respect from the vast majority of Americans is concerned.

For the goodness of the United States citizens and himself, it is now time for the 81-year-old Robertson to retire as a televangelist.