March 3, 2010
By Beth Griffin

Who ministers to the ministers? Where can priests and religious safely turn when they are depressed or addicted?

Guest House, a 54-year-old organization headquartered in Lake Orion, Mich., specializes in treating priests, religious, deacons and seminarians with addictions. Upper Room, a new crisis hotline based in Joliet, Ill., provides paraprofessional counseling, information, referral, suicide prevention and reassurance for elderly priests, brothers and deacons.

Priests and vowed religious are at least as susceptible to the grip of addiction as laypeople, and although they may be more reluctant to accept help, they have an excellent success rate if they complete treatment that respects their vocational call. Daniel A. Kidd, president and CEO of Guest House, said, "We affirm the vocation of our clients and integrate their vocation and commitment with the 12-step program."

He added, "Anyone can take a 12-step program and make it work, but when they can connect their spirituality to the recovery process, it's a ‘Eureka' moment."

Since 1956, the lay-led Guest House has helped 7,300 people recover from addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling and compulsive eating. It now has four treatment locations in three states. Its educational affiliates, Guest House Institute and the National Catholic Council on Alcoholism and Related Drug Problems, provide programs for dioceses, seminaries and religious communities, and other resources, such as the free 30-page booklet "Prayers for Addicted Persons and Their Loved Ones."

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