A Catholic Recovery Program?

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I have no desire to argue with anyone about AA. I have 20 years sobriety and my wife, who I met at a meeting, has 19. We have a wonderful marriage and continued to “improve our conscious contact with God, and we understand Him”. Now, after 17 years of marriage we have decided to join the Catholic church.

I’ve met people in AA with bad opinions of the Catholic church. That doesn’t mean it’s doctrine. Actually, we (AA) “have no opinions on outside issues”.

I’m sorry your opinion of AA is so negative. I hope you do well in your sobriety. God bless you.
 
frfreddie said:
I have no desire to argue with anyone about AA. I have 20 years sobriety and my wife, who I met at a meeting, has 19. We have a wonderful marriage and continued to “improve our conscious contact with God, and we understand Him”. Now, after 17 years of marriage we have decided to join the Catholic church.

I’ve met people in AA with bad opinions of the Catholic church. That doesn’t mean it’s doctrine. Actually, we (AA) “have no opinions on outside issues”.

I’m sorry your opinion of AA is so negative. I hope you do well in your sobriety. God bless you.
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Congrates on your marriage, and coming home into the Church.

May the peace of the Lord be with you and your wife.

Bennie P ><>
 
FYI only - if you are going to use the 12 Steps you need to be granted permission by GSO in NY which is a very easy thing to get…if you are not then it is a mute point.

frfreddie and wife - welcome Home to Rome! If you are ever in Modesto we would love to see you at the Principle Study Group of AA…
 
**Bennie and others:

Where are we in this discussion about a Catholic recovery program? Perhaps a summary would be useful at this point. If the discussion is to continue, what might its primary purpose be?

jblair
**
 
jblair said:
**Bennie and others:

Where are we in this discussion about a Catholic recovery program? Perhaps a summary would be useful at this point. If the discussion is to continue, what might its primary purpose be?

jblair
**
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Well it is kind of hard to say,

The following is an outline of what I see could be the basis of a recovery group;

Particulars are uncertain, but some the things I see has elements could be:

A)Use the Mass as a starting point. For example to start with a group that meets once a week.
after a weekday Mass (many parishs have a mid-week evening mass in my part of the country.)

B)The meetings are to be focused on the spiritaulity as it relates to the Catholic Church and other recovery programs. (Not a meeting to discredit any recovery program but add to or be supplemental to them in offering the spirituality of the Catholic Church.)

C)The group would function as a bridge for those that have fallen away from the Church back to the Church and a bridge for those in the Church seeking help as a resource for them to explore different sources of recovery.

D)The group would be a starting point to expand into the different areas of recovery not only for those in recovery for alcoholism and drug addiction but many of the other areas that are destructive to family life.

*The whole idea is not to discredit other programs, but to build a community of those in recovery, making it part of the body instead of outside and disconnected, plus being a tool of evangelization.

That is some of the ideas I have come up with from the discussion. But, I allowed my own prejudice steer the whole discussion in a negative way and believe it caused too many to get defensive about their own recovery, myself included, and we drifted away from the discussion of a need or a purpose of such a recovery program within the perspective of the Catholic community. I also think some that might have commented, (alot of people have viewed the discussion), haven’t because the discussion turned negative.

Bennie P ><>
 
blessedtoo said:
Just found this link on the CA Ask An Apologist. Very interesting.
calixsociety.org/
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I have been in contact with Calix Society and recieved a mailing with the information about them and how to start up a Calix Group. and I made inquiries with The Matt Talbot Retreat Movement and received information on the what and how from that Group. Both seem to be OK for what they offer.

But both are focused only on alcoholics, and when I talk about a recovery group, I see the need of a group that that brings the Christian community into unity about all the hurts and hangups that are destructive to members of the body of Christ.

As an alcoholic (something I see in other alcoholics) I seem to be a person that tends to think I’m unique by being an alcoholic. When I’m under the influence then I my spirit connection with Christ is broken, but that is true with all that get lost into their different areas of brokeness, be it co-dependacy (making others a god), sexual addiction (making flesh a god), anger (making oneself a god), etc. etc. And I tend to forget all the damage that I have done to others. So I see also the need of providing a safe place for those that have been hurt that can find recovery also. The body of Christ is made up of many parts.

If the foot is injured it usually takes both hands to clean the wound and bandage it up.
 
To get an idea of what I’m saying in the previous post please listen to the story about my freind Bob at

familylife.com/fltoday/default.asp?id=8717&search=1&showType=&guests=&strMonth=&strDay=&strYear=&keywords=Celebrate+Recovery&image1.x=35&image1.y=11

And at this link you can hear his wife’s story also.

familylife.com/fltoday/default.asp?id=8716&search=1&showType=&guests=&strMonth=&strDay=&strYear=&keywords=Celebrate+Recovery&image1.x=35&image1.y=11

What I am proposing is a recovery program that is similar, but Catholic.

Here is Bob’s written Testimony: familylife.com/articles/article_detail.asp?id=1177

And his Wife’s Testimony
familylife.com/articles/article_detail.asp?id=1178
 
**Some earlier messages in this forum referred to a connection between AA’s twelve steps and the spiritual exercises developed by St. Ignatius. One helpful book connecting these two is “A 12-Step Approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius” by Fr. Jim Harbaugh, S.J., who taught in the Addiction Studies Program at Seattle University, is a certified chemical dependency counselor, and has presented many 12-step retreats on the US West coast. It was published in 1997 by Sheed & Ward.
JBlair
**
 
**For those who are familiar with the weekend scriptural readings of the Roman Catholic Common Lectionary, Sheed & Ward published in 2002 “A 12-Step Approach to the Sunday Readings” by Fr. Jim Harbaugh, S.J. Included are meditations for Cycles A, B, and C, beginning December, 2002 and ending, December,2010.
JBlair
**
 
A very useful twelve step pamphlet series is now available through The 12-Step Review at www.12-step-Review.org. These fold-out pamphlets present each of the twelve steps integrating AA and Christianity. This series and other publications are written and produced by Fr. Emmerich Vogt, O.P.
These pamphlets are easily placed in one’s pocket for reading anywhere any time and are certainly worthwhile to purchase additional copies ($12.00 per series) for church libraries, sponsees, and especially those unfamiliar with AA from a Catholic perspective. A sample of these pamphlets can be found at the website and can enhance one’s twelve step journey of recovery.
JBlair
 
jblair said:
**For those who are familiar with the weekend scriptural readings of the Roman Catholic Common Lectionary, Sheed & Ward published in 2002 “A 12-Step Approach to the Sunday Readings” by Fr. Jim Harbaugh, S.J. Included are meditations for Cycles A, B, and C, beginning December, 2002 and ending, December,2010.
JBlair
**
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Thanks, I just ordered both of those books and after Mass today I will check out the web page you refered.
 
***Thanks for the feedback, Bennie, about the potential value of the two books and website I posted.

Searching the web and specifically blogs is another avenue for identifying information about Catholics and AA. In searching my files earlier today, I found the two articles I was looking for that were written by two different bloggers who identify themselves as both Catholics and recovering in AA. Their links are***
sobercatholic.blogspot.com
aaspiritualityreligion.blogspot.com

***(A search would probably identify other such blogs.) Since I haven’t explored other articles by these two, I cannot attest to their overall quality nor blogs in general since I am not a routine blog reader.
JBlair
 
jblair said:
***Thanks for the feedback, Bennie, about the potential value of the two books and website I posted.

Searching the web and specifically blogs is another avenue for identifying information about Catholics and AA. In searching my files earlier today, I found the two articles I was looking for that were written by two different bloggers who identify themselves as both Catholics and recovering in AA. Their links are***
sobercatholic.blogspot.com
aaspiritualityreligion.blogspot.com

[JBlair
**
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Thanks, for sharing. On one of the blogs there is a copy of a letter From Bill W to Carl Jung I found interesting:

aaspiritualityreligion.blogspot.com/2007/02/bill-w-carl-jung-letters-1961.html

From the Biography, I list in an ealier post, I believe Carl Jung died before Bill mailed it to him.

*Bill W.: a biography of Alcoholics Anonymous cofounder Bill Wilson, Francis Hartigan. St. Martin’s Press, c2000.
Francis Hartigan he was Bill W’s wife’s secretary during her last days after Bill died.

amazon.com/Bill-W-Biography-Alcoholics-Cofounder/dp/0312283911

The Aryan Christ, The Secret Life of Carl Jung, By Richard Noll

amazon.com/Aryan-Christ-Secret-Life-Carl/dp/0679449450

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Buchman
 
jblair said:
**For those who are familiar with the weekend scriptural readings of the Roman Catholic Common Lectionary, Sheed & Ward published in 2002 “A 12-Step Approach to the Sunday Readings” by Fr. Jim Harbaugh, S.J. Included are meditations for Cycles A, B, and C, beginning December, 2002 and ending, December,2010.
JBlair
**
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Thanks JBlair and you too Leslie (LSK) I received both books “A 12-Step Approach to the Sunday Readings” and “A 12-Step Approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius”.

Though I still see them too steep into the AA program way of doing things, but I do see were they might be a help to me to further develop my idea of a Catholic Christ Centered program and give me time to just think it out in prayer.

The thing with the AA approach, (to me), is the fact that it is aimed at only the problems of alcoholism and I personally see recovery as more then an alcoholic’s world. Maybe its a from the reason that though alcohol has been a element of my past self-destruction, the other elements that helped me to make the wrong choices you just do not hear in an AA meeting and the things that are needed to go beyond steps 1, 2, 3 seem to be missing also. Of course the opportunity for 12th stepping is there, but so much is left out, mainly Christ.

I find myself going to less AA meetings but having a regular routine with my weekly CR meetings and going to daily mass (as I can) and doing work for the Church (service to others). Suprisingly more and more people from the AA meetings are showing up at the CR meetings and non-devout “Ex” Catholics are coming to me more and more to find out why I am such a Jesus Freak about the Catholic Church and the sacraments.

To the newcomer, my advice is go to meetings, get a sponsor and do the steps, let God take hold, seek His will.
 
Bennie_P said:
Thanks JBlair and you too Leslie (LSK) I received both books “A 12-Step Approach to the Sunday Readings” and “A 12-Step Approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius”.

Though I still see them too steep into the AA program way of doing things, but I do see were they might be a help to me to further develop my idea of a Catholic Christ Centered program and give me time to just think it out in prayer.

The thing with the AA approach, (to me), is the fact that it is aimed at only the problems of alcoholism and I personally see recovery as more then an alcoholic’s world. Maybe its a from the reason that though alcohol has been a element of my past self-destruction, the other elements that helped me to make the wrong choices you just do not hear in an AA meeting and the things that are needed to go beyond steps 1, 2, 3 seem to be missing also. Of course the opportunity for 12th stepping is there, but so much is left out, mainly Christ.

I find myself going to less AA meetings but having a regular routine with my weekly CR meetings and going to daily mass (as I can) and doing work for the Church (service to others). Suprisingly more and more people from the AA meetings are showing up at the CR meetings and non-devout and “Ex” Catholics are coming to me more and more to find out why I am such a Jesus Freak about the Catholic Church and the sacraments.

To the newcomer, my advice is go to meetings, get a sponsor and do the steps, let God take hold, seek His will.
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**Interest in this thread seems to have wained, but I will make the following comments.

I received today in the mail a glossy 8 page booklet about a Celebrate Recovery Summit in Lake Forest, CA, August 15-17. One article is titled, “7 Keys to Grow a Recovery Ministry,” which might be informative if the CR model is attractive for someone in exploring a Catholic-flavored version, if that is necessary.

A second exploration would be to contact John Baker at CR who actually developed CR.

A third area of exploration would be to seek nearly churches that offer the CR program and see what adaptations might be made, if that is desired.

A note in this brochure says that “70 percent of Celebrate Recovery participants come from outside the church.”

For more information see “PurposeDriven.com/Celebrate Recovery”

**
 
The Calix Society (calixsociety.org/) **has been mentioned before in this thread. If there is a desire to provide a Catholic adjunct to regular AA meetings, this “society” would seem to be a logical beginning.

They have a packet of introductory material for beginning a Calix group. This seems to be a worthwhile step not only for practicing Catholics in AA, but also for lapse Catholics currently attending only AA. But as their literature clearly states, a Calix group is in addition to AA and not a replacement for AA.

Even if you are not interested in beginning a Calix group, I encourage Catholics in AA to support Calix as part of your service.
**
 
I just wanted to bump this thread as it appears there still isn’t an answer to the ongoing question of, ‘Why not a completely Catholic recovery program?’

Protestant churches abound in step-studies completely immersed in the Word, why is it so hard to locate–even on the world wide web–a website or a group that is the Catholic equivalent? There is even a Catholic weight-loss program out there.

One protestant version of what I’m looking for is at The Village Church in Texas.

From their website;
Recovery At The Village is not self-help, but a Christ-centered discipleship program, which helps people who struggle with many of the hurts, habits and hang-ups that keep us from living healthy, productive lives. Through Christ we find freedom from our addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors. Christ opens the door so that generational sins might die with us so we do not pass them to our children. Recovery At The Village is a safe place to step out of the darkness and into the light to allow God’s grace to change our hearts.
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They deal with


  1. *]Sexual addiction
    *]Chemical addiction
    *]Rage
    *]Food issues (dealing with all types of eating disorders, including food addiction)
    *]Victims of Abuse, and
    *]Codependency

    I wish there was a Catholic version of this. I know I need it. 😦
 
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