E
ex-12stepper
Guest
Here’s a thread that I’ve always wanted to start and have finally sat down to do it. About 10 years ago at age 22, I was in college and had some social problems that I felt were really bothering me. I just didn’t seem to fit in, I felt I was different than most people around me. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I was also addicted to masturbation and regularly indulged in “soft-core” pornography on cable TV late at night. When things finally crashed down on me, I went to see a counselor, and he suggested that I was an Adult Child of an Alcoholic.
I’d be interested to hear what others think. I’m aware that there are members of 12 step programs on this forum who find no conflict with being an orthodox Catholic and a member of AA.
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I immediately indulged myself in the whole recovery movement, going to ACoA and Alanon meetings. At first it was great, but then I began to fall into some really obsessive thinking. I began to see all of these conflicts between 12 step philosophy and Catholic doctrine. Whenever I had a sponsor and expressed my concerns that chastity as traditionally taught by the Catholic Church was the way to go, they told me I was being too rigid, following a co-dependent pathway. The priests I met who were part of 12 step programs introduced me to a lot of heterodox, leftist philosophy, and I remained involved in it for many years.
Finally, about 3 years ago, I stopped going to alanon meetings, and completely surrendered myself to orthodox Catholicism. It's been great! FOR ME, I found that I couldn't do both. It was like following two masters. I've met MANY other Catholic young men who grew up in alcoholic families and many others who are/have been addicted to pornography, and instead of a 12 step program, they use the sacraments and Catholic spirituality to live a chaste, non-codependant life! 12 step programs call themselves spiritual programs, but it seems to me that all my spiritual needs should be taken care of by my religion.