Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse died this week, apparently another victim of heroine and other drugs.  We learned about the power of heroine to take great talents from our midst in the John Belushi post.  I think the only way to examine this situation and link her to Pope John Paul II is through addiction, submission to Christ, and confession.  Let's get started!

The Priory Clinic in London

Ms Winehouse entered rehab for the last time this past May.  She checked into the Priory Clinic on her doctor's advice.  The Priory is not a rehab facility but a mental health institution.  As mentioned in the Belushi post, the success rates for rehab are very low, less than 10%.  We know that certain neurotransmitters are at work, but we don't know how to effectively treat the craving for these highs.

Scottish singer, Susan Boyle spent time at the London Priory clinic
immediately following the extreme stress of her meteoric rise to fame
a few years back.  As we learned in her post, she sang for
Pope Benedict XVI.  Boyle is a second degreer.

Autism, learning disabilities, Schizoaffective disorder, alcoholism, eating disorders, drug addiction, Aspergers, depression, and a host of other problems are treated at the Priory.  Celebrities from the late Amy Winehouse to Susan Boyle, Kate Moss, Lisa Marie Presley, and Courtney Love have been treated there.  

When we look at the mental health treatments of 50 years ago we are horrified.  Back then, lobotomies were all the rage.

Lithium had just been discovered as a treatment for Bipolar and other mood disorders, and electroshock and insulin treatment were cutting edge.  This clip from A Beautiful Mind, (a flick I highly recommend,) shows what an insulin treatment was like around 1960.  

The "religion" of Scientology is centers on a hatred of psychiatry.  We'll get more into that in a future post.  As a rational Catholic, I know that the scientologists are on the WRONG track.  The answer to mental health is not denying that it can go wrong or attributing mental illness to demons or engrams or sins of the fathers.  The answer is in research, funding, prayer, compassion, love, and all the tools given to us by God.  He gave us the sacraments and amazing brains.  Let's use them together.  

Let's fund mental health in parity with physical health.  Let's get national healthcare so that treatment is accessible to all.  Let's strengthen our families and our friendships to prevent more minor mental illnesses.  Let's put on Christ and be his hands, ears, eyes, and voice!

Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen 

It's April, the month of fools.  Foolishness can manifest itself in many ways.  Most of the posts this month will be about comedians, but some will be about people who behave in a foolish manner.  As I write this, Charlie Sheen and his antics have become the laughing stock of the United States.  Jimmy Fallon did a remarkably good impression of Charlie for the mock cologne, "Winning."  Take a look.

Note the eyes, disheveled look, and extensive aging
in a relatively short time period.  All signs of substance
abuse.  

To see an extended interview with Charlie on The Today Show, click here.

Sheen's alcoholism and drug abuse is tragic, but sadly, not uncommon.  Charlie insists that he is in control of his substance use, but his life and looks don't agree.  Charlie is blind to the reality of his life, this makes him a tragic fool indeed.

Two sins plague Americans, sloth and gluttony.  I myself struggle furiously with both of these sins, but they manifest themselves in a lack of exercise and overeating.  When we laugh at Charlie, we are avoiding looking at our own sins.

Charlie was born Carlos Estevez.  He has a famous brother, Emilio Estevez, and his father, Martin Sheen are famous actors too.   Martin took the surname, "Sheen" out of love for the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen.  Martin Sheen is a devout Catholic and asks for prayer for his son.
  

Carol O'Conner lost his son to a drug overdose

Several years ago, Martin Sheen turned to his friend, Carol O'Conner, to help Charlie get off of drugs.  Carol, who lost his own son to drug addiction, was instrumental in that episode of recovery for Charlie.  

Charlie Sheen's life is far from "winning" at the moment.  He's lost his job, his wives, his children, and now the respect of the general public.  I will endeavor to refrain from poking fun of this guy.  He thinks he is a king, but is a fool of the most tragic sort.  I hope you will do the same.

This blogger makes a pretty compelling case for Charlie being under the influence of The Evil One.  What do you think?

A word about Heroine

infected track marks on a heroine user

When you think of heroine, think "Winning!!!," and Charlie Sheen's gaunt and crazed expression.  That sense of invincibility and godlike grandeur is what heroine is known for.  It is why it has the name, "heroine."  When you do this drug, you feel like a superhero.  This and all illegal drugs are not regulated for potency and purity.  It is easy to overdose on them with ONE DOSE.

If you are offered this or any other drug (that is not prescribed and is "recreational"), think of Charlie Sheen.  Do you want to be a "winner" too?

Charlie is very right about one thing.  Rehab is notoriously ineffective for longterm success against drug addiction.  Just don't start!

Fidel Castro, 2 reckonings

"They've been waiting for me to die for a
few decades now, Father.  It's not time yet."

1 Degree  

But that's boring.  Here's a 2 degree reckoning that is a little more interesting.  

2 Degrees

Ernst (Ernesto) Lechthaler has found excellence in bartending. 

• He consults hotels and luxury hotel chains on bar design and bartending
• He has invented drinks and done promotional photo spreads with top designers, including Versace
• He's served the most influential and famous people in the world
• He's written several books, including one on Cuban drinks.  Guess who he met while researching that book?

Lechthaler and Castro

Lechthaler presenting a sterling silver cocktail shaker to
John Paul II on behalf of International Barkeeperssee Lechthaler's site for the original photos

See the link to the blog Catholic Drinkie in the sidebar

Do you have any ideas for a drink "The JP2"?  Leave recipes in comments.  

A word on Catholic drinking: Drinking the blood of Christ is the highest sacrament there is.  Catholics love drinking.  Friars have brewed beer and wines for millenia.  Jesus turned water into really good wine.  You can even buy Frangelico in a bottle that's  dressed as a Franciscan.  

Drinking alcohol is not a sin.  Drinking and driving is a sin.  Drinking to get drunk is a sin.  Drinking to make your date more attractive is a sin.  

Fermentation and the beverages that are derived from fermentation are morally neutral.  They are a gift from God.  Like all heavenly gifts, they need to be treated with respect.  They are here to help us become closer to God and closer to one another in true friendship.  If drinking detracts from your life, it should not be enjoyed by you.  Not everyone can enjoy every gift from God.  

If drinking is negatively effecting your life, you are an alcoholic.  Alcoholics cannot drink.  Click here for a really good podcast about alcoholism, its definition and treatment.