I received this post from a reader who quit Alcoholics Anonymous because he got so tired of all the Church-bashing at the meetings. But I’ll let him tell you for himself . . .
HU writes: I had been going to AA for about a year and half but I no longer go because I simply got tired of the group bad mouthing the church. In my experience with the group, if anyone had mentioned Jesus Christ or got a little preachy they would quickly be shot down.
Also, I was never comfortable with the idea of giving my life over to a higher power – whatever that power may be.
What I have learned by the guidance of the Holy Spirit is that there are demonic forces behind all sorts of addictions including alcohol. I have received true freedom by receiving the sacrament of the sick and going to confession when cravings arise. I really feel that the self help group AA is part of the New Age Movement, it has all characteristics of the New Age Movement.
From what I understand, local AA meetings are all operated by their own leaders and many are conducted in ways that are very profitable to participants. However, there are definitely problems with AA groups out there so beware.
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I can’t speak for all regions of course, but I know that in my area there are AA meetings which are hosted in Catholic parishes, and at least one priest is an attendee. Perhaps it’s a matter of finding a meeting that is within these parameters?
I can bear witness to the catholic gentleman’s experience. I have been around the rooms of 12 Step recovery since 1987. AA, NA, SAA, SA. I stopped going for the same reason, plus they removed the AA story of the catholic who recovered from the third edition of the Big Book & replaced it with a story of an active homosexual’s recovery story in the 4th edition of the Big Book.
Organized religion gets a bad rap in current AA meetings. The 12 Step recovery movement is a smorgasbord of New Age ideas. Just go to any Barnes & Noble, &, sadly, at many catholic book stores too, & see what is in the self help book section.
What I also find very troubling is how many priest are quick to send the catholic broken by addiction to twelve step rooms. As a holy monsignor told me, “The 12 Steps are merely psychological. It is through the sacraments that true healing can take place and that the battle over addiction can be won.” I firmly believe that statement & practice it to the best of my ability, and it works.
I heard a woman in AA tell her story some years back. She embraced the disease concept of addiction, of which I do not believe, & that she was a counselor counseling a 19 year old male who killed himself before she could get to him in time. She had herself sterilized because in her words, “I did not want to bring an alcoholic into the world.” That’s how whacked out one can become by embracing the cult belief that it’s a disease. I like to say I suffer from a dis-ease, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee O Lord.”
Granted, there are many in AA who stay with it & are faithful practicing Catholics. I do not disparage their participation. What prompted me to think more deeply about what I was exposing myself to was a sentence in C.S. Lewis’ book Screwtape Letters, page 8, “…to having a dozen incompatible philosophies dancing about together inside his head….Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church.” Go to enough AA meetings & that is what one will hear, jargon.
I refuse to settle for anything less than the fullness of truth that can only be found in the true church Jesus Christ founded, the one Holy Catholic Church.
@peace2day,
Chris