<SNIP>
Anyways, Nick Rekieta thread tax: Hope Nick R. becomes the best possible father for the children going forward by dying immediately!
Sadly or not, depending on your particular POV, that may happen sooner than later. Where heroin, cocaine, meth or whatever withdrawals make you wish you were dead; they aren't inherently dangerous in and of themselves.
ETOH withdrawals can absolutely kill you without medically supervised care. Weening is technically possible but impossible for an abuser as far gone as Nick, short of having one of those "off the books" rehabs (it's a thing).
RE: The Preacher
@AnOminous was 100% correct with the details that have since leaked, that the preacher literally followed the Bible in the "Matthew 18" procedure. But that particular passage is dealing with a brother sinning against you. You first go to the brother, then two or more witnesses, then the congregation.
That last part is where 99% go awry. There's some weird post modern perversion of admonitions against gossip (literally vain meddling) conflating it with not talking about concerns for the congregation. I'd argue at this point, whatever information the preacher (he may be a pastor also but many act as pastors/elders (presbyters/shepherds) especially in smaller congregations) he tried to minister to the Rekietas and was rebuffed.
Once he was notified of what was going on, he had no choice either morally or legally. There is a Scriptural doctrine of unforgiveness and in fact Paul castigated the Corinthian congregation for tolerating an incestuous relationship vs. removing them from their midst. Call it disfellowship, excommunication or exile... don't care, it's the same effect.
Matthew 18 does not, and should not be applied to criminal activity (been there, done that, got the t-shirt... made that mistake once... ONCE). Especially when God's children, the little ones are in harm's way. What the preacher did removed the kids from a sure path to damnation to one where they have some kind of chance, slim as it may be.
</preacher simp rant>
Going back and seeing the clips, and Jim's brutal yet poignant stream, where nick denounces his faith, God, the preacher and the congregation I realize there's a possibility that those dark spirits that surround Nick, led him to commit the ONLY unforgivable sin (Mt 12:31, Lk 12:10). I hope not. If he has, he IS truly lost and not just a prodigal.
BTW, what if the prodigal in his pride and hubris died outside of his father's embrace? Nick, if you haven't already given your soul to Satan, come back while you can. See the pig sty you lie in and return to your Father, He will rejoice and you can once again feel His embrace.
Okay, okay... moral faggotry ends here. And FFS, another 18 pages while I was typing?