Even though
alcoholism ranks as one of the country's three major health problems, along with cancer and heart disease; even though it accounts
for approximately 98,000 deaths every year; even though it is the root cause of most pastoral - care crises (suicides, auto fatalities, child abuse, divorces, hospital admissions, accidental deaths and home violence); even though it costs the nation $ 120 billion annually in terms of lost work time, health and welfare benefits, property damage, medical expenses, insurance and lost wages; and even though its effects impair the educational process of every child in every classroom, still the church acts as though
alcoholism does not exist.