John W. Garcia, known as “Johnny” to his friends, has seen the dark side of life. The 39-year-old California native came from an abusive home and sought to alleviate his pain through alcohol. He soon found that as his drinking increased so did his suffering.
Garcia’s attempts to overcome alcohol and eventual drug abuse included Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, more than 10 medications and psychotherapy. He had periods of sobriety but also many relapses, never finding true contentment.
Garcia even found that some of the means proposed for his benefit actually made things worse, including the medications he was given. His breaking point came in 2006, when he relapsed once again and was sentenced to 16 months in prison. It was here that he understood for the first time what the Church has to offer those suffering from addictions, especially the healing found in the sacrament of penance.
Today, Garcia embraces the Church’s means of healing and enthusiastically shares them with others, as he explained recently to Register correspondent Trent Beattie.
What was wrong with the way you attempted to deal with your addictions before coming back to the Church?
My family background was lacking in faith formation. The most basic things — keeping the Ten Commandments, Mass attendance and going to confession — were simply not part of my life growing up. They weren’t discussed and weren’t put into practice.
This spiritual void was filled with modern psychology’s vision of man, which does not include an immortal soul. Modern psychology deals with behaviors, but does not deal with the cause of those behaviors, which is found in the soul. Viewed from philosophical terms, psychology is the study of the soul, as we can see from the etymology of the word psyche, the primary meaning of which is soul.
However, modern psychology will tell us something different, as was the case with me.
I was dual-diagnosed as being alcoholic and bipolar, put on many different medications and went through various treatment centers, all the while not realizing the real cause of my problems. I bought into the mindset that the only cure for my problems was 12-step programs, including the first such program, Alcoholics Anonymous.
The real source of my problems stemmed from a consequence of original sin — our concupiscence (or the tendency toward sin) — that I did not control, but gave in to by committing personal sin. I thought I had a personality defect or disease that caused my misbehaviors, but finally realized it was my own free will consenting to sin. Only after learning this truth could I really strike at the root of the problem. This is done by totally giving oneself to God through his Church. What follows is serious reception of the sacraments and use of the sacramentals, along with prayer (the Rosary, in particular) and cultivating the theological of virtues of faith, hope and charity in the soul through sanctifying grace.
The 12 steps (which include “admitting our wrongs” and “willingness to be healed”) seem very compatible with Christianity, so where does the problem come in?
There is good to be found in the 12 steps, so it’s not as if they are entirely opposed to all the Catholic Church teaches. Things such as sharing your problems with another person and taking things one day at a time are great, but they aren’t the whole story of how God wants to heal us. This is why the 12 steps should not be seen as the final destination, but as stepping stones, so to speak, for someone coming into the Church.
The 12 steps can mimic what the Church has to offer, thereby misleading people as to what is truly taking place. For instance, many people have told me they don’t have to go to confession because they talk with their sponsor. Then I explain that sponsors can be helpful, but they can’t forgive our sins; only a Catholic priest can do that. This is how Jesus set up his Church, as seen in John 20, when he says to his apostles, “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them.”
There’s relief in talking to a sponsor, but there’s more relief — not to mention sanctifying grace — in going to confession. This is where awesome miracles take place all the time. St. Augustine says, “It is a greater work to make a just man out of a sinner than to create heaven and earth.” This is what Jesus does through his priests when they forgive mortal sins — the spiritually dead are raised to life.
But doesn’t that qualify as being healed by the “higher power” mentioned in the 12 steps?
When you say “higher power” to a Catholic, he would think of the Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What he may not realize is that in the 12 steps the “higher power” does not have to be the Triune God. It can be anything or anyone, as long as it’s not you.
In my 10 years with AA, there were people who made a celebrity, their sponsor or even a doorknob their higher power.
This contradicts the First Commandment: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.” In one sense, any sin could be thought of as idolatry because we’re putting a created thing before God. However, to raise it to a whole new level of formal idolatry is even worse. Unfortunately, many people do just this. It can lead to all kinds of trouble because, as exorcist priests have pointed out to me, demons are, in fact, higher powers. Surrender to a god other than the true God actually opens the person up to the possibility of demonic influence.
This surrender to gods is what addictions are, really, so anyone who has lived in a state of sin for a long period of time would benefit not only from confession but also deliverance prayer. I personally was transformed by the deliverance prayer of Pope Leo XIII prayed over me by a trained exorcist priest. If you’ve opened yourself up to demonic influence through Ouija boards, tarot cards, horoscopes, [certain forms of] rock music, drugs, alcohol abuse or any other means, I recommend deliverance prayer. It can even be helpful to people who don’t remember having certainly committed such sins.
Many people would wonder why you refer to sin regarding alcoholism, which is widely seen as a disease out of one’s control.
It is true that we cannot control our behaviors — whether they be drinking or otherwise — without God’s grace. It’s not just a matter of sheer willpower which saves us apart from God’s help. It’s also true that there can be difficult things to endure while giving up drinking, including withdrawal symptoms. However, this doesn’t mean alcoholism is a disease in the sense we would use the term for cancer or malaria.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that alcoholics expect praise for sobriety but not contempt for drinking. The first instance presupposes an element of free will, while the second instance is a denial of free will. It’s taking credit for our virtues but shirking responsibility for our vices — and by the way, even more vices follow in the wake of drunkenness.
Drunkenness is repeatedly referred to as a sin in the Bible. In Galatians 5, St. Paul lists the works of the flesh, one of which is drunkenness. He then says, “I warn you as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Now if alcoholism were really a disease, why would St. Paul condemn someone who has it?
Similarly, St. Peter expects us to be sober and vigilant, as seen in 1 Peter 5. It would be extremely cruel for these great men of faith to expect a person to change his behavior if he had no control over it. The solution is simple: We do have the power, by God’s grace, to control our behaviors, and this grace is experienced most fully in the Catholic Church.
Even after you returned to the Church, you were under the impression for quite some time that you had a disease. When did that change?
I would still struggle after returning to the Church in 1997, not because anything was lacking therein, but because of major misconceptions about my situation. As stated previously, I was dual-diagnosed as alcoholic and bipolar, and then put on a series of medications. Curiously enough, the medications turned out to be more troublesome than the problems they were supposed to be helping.
The pain and confusion worsened, hitting a peak in 2006. I spent large amounts of money on my addictions, lost my job, and got into trouble with the law. I was sent to jail the next year, which was an all-time low point. I had been in lots of trouble before, but had never gone to jail. I was terrified and, in my desperation, started praying the Rosary daily, asking for Mary’s help. Shortly after this, I stopped taking medications and have not taken any since.
It was also in jail that I read the Bible, cover to cover, in two and a half months. I realized that up to that point I was reading Alcoholics Anonymous (commonly known as “The Big Book“) more than I was reading the Bible. When I started reading the written word of God more and more, I learned the true nature of my problem, which was my own sin, not a disease.
I realized that we are called to act becomingly as children of God, and sobriety is an essential aspect of this. It’s not an impossible goal, but a very realistic one that can be done by the grace of God and a firm resolve to make it happen. This is what is so great about understanding the cardinal virtue of temperance, which is also known in the New Testament as sobriety. It was such a relief to know that if I wanted to be sober I needed to practice human virtue, which requires an act of the will.
From Bible reading, I delved into the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I gained an even greater understanding of concupiscence, sin, free will, prayer, Marian intercession, redemption and grace. Even though I had been back in the Church for almost 10 years, it took that much time to let go of the 12-step mindset and make full use of what Jesus Christ has to offer us. That shows the tremendous importance of really knowing the truth, because the truth will set you free. I had the greatest gifts imaginable right in front of my face but couldn’t make the best use of them until letting go of fundamental errors in my thinking.
I was released early from prison on Oct. 17, which is the day St. Maximilian Kolbe (the patron of prisoners) was beatified in 1971. A few months afterward I consecrated myself and my family to Our Blessed Mother through the Militia Immaculata, founded by St. Maximilian. We renew our consecration every day as a family, placing ourselves under the protection of the Mother of God, whose major goal is to reconcile sinners with her Son. My wife, Laura, knows this, and, in fact, I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for her own intercessory prayers.
My time in prison was both the worst and best time of my life. Never had I encountered so much evil, but never had I become aware of so much grace. It’s this same grace I want to share with others who are imprisoned, in a sense, in the 12 steps, and in their own sinful habits.
How do you go about doing this?
I have a website that contains the basic resources for overcoming addictions and becoming freer to practice virtue. I’ve spoken at conferences and on the radio programs Reasons for Faith Live and Straight Talk Catholicism and have recorded talks on CD and DVD for St. Joseph Communications. We’ve also developed, through John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego, a brand-new online course for those who want to overcome bad moral habits. It’s called How to Build Good Habits and Be Happy: A Course in Thomistic Ethics.
Additionally, we’re very happy to say that Dec. 10 is the date for our second Sober for Christ Conference in Covina, Calif. It’s free of charge, and it will also help to set those free who’ve been captive to sin. This is what we see in the lives of the saints, many of whom have overcome problems such as alcohol abuse, gambling and prostitution. St. Augustine, St. Mary of Egypt, St. Margaret of Cortona, St. John of God, St. Camillus de Lellis and many others have not only removed specific sins from their lives, but have totally surrendered themselves to God. None of them went to 12 step meetings, but received from the Church everything they needed to “get straight and fly right.”
Jesus Christ came to save us from sin, so if the 12 steps were necessary to do this, he would have given them to us. He didn’t do this, but he did give us his Mother, his Church and the sacraments — the most important of which is the holy Eucharist. Once you’ve fallen in love with Jesus in the holy Eucharist, there’s no need for extra-ecclesial organizations. There’s a deep, abiding peace that fills the soul like no support group could ever do.
The 12 steps can help you get through the day, but what the Church has to offer will enable you to see the day that never ends — that is, eternity in heaven — spent with our loving Father. St. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2 that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor [has] the heart of man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Register correspondent Trent Beattie writes from Seattle, Washington.
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I’m a ncr subscriber and an AA member since 1987. This demonization of AA is wrong and will cause Catholic drunks to keep the confession,drunk, confession, drunk cycle going until they die drunk. Shame on “Johnny”. There is anti-Catholicism in AA members but my sober friend reminds me to keep a thick skin and I try to evangalize while at meetings. My sponsor also suggested an alcohol educated priest for the 5th step. I’ll go to confession to my parish priest, but not for my alcoholism because he’s not qualified unless he’s a drunk too. AA is the one and only solution for alcoholism and now I’m off to Mass. Et nanos in ducas in temtationem. respectfully yours, george
I remember thinking recently that Johnny would make for a good profile, but that it was too soon. He’s been sober and out of jail less than 5 years. Heaven forbid he should go back to his old lifestyle, but with human beings involved with serious addictions, it is certainly a possibility. (Look at the scandal of John Corapi, and many other well meaning Catholics like him.) Johnny was heavily involved in the faith before he surrendered to his addictions and wound up in prison in 2006 (look at his website, you’ll see him in photos with prominent Catholic apologists before this). Good luck, Johnny, I wish you the best in overcoming your issues and helping others to do so. But, you might like to wait another couple years before you are publicly profiled.
Amen, and AMEN. Like I told Johnny, after a well-meaning Priest who had never been to a meeting suggested I join AA… my husband watched me change from a serious, practicing Catholic… into a very spiritually confused, joyless, selfish, angry, unstable *nut*! In less than one year of almost daily “meetings,” I had stopped attending Mass and had begun to dabble in “new age” practices, beginning to revert to my pre-conversion self. I now believe the enemy of our souls knows very well how to mix just enough truth into deception in order to cause *extreme* spiritual confusion—which is exactly what I encountered in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. With the exception of drunkenness, all manner of sin was accepted in those meetings: selfishness, lust, homosexuality, pornography, fornication, adultery, and their personal favorite: BLASPHEMY of our Lord and His Church. The majority of the people I met were vocal ex-Catholics, and they nearly made me one. It’s so wonderful to be free from AA and back home in the safety of holy mother CHURCH. I am replacing all those meetings with frequent reception of the Sacraments and daily recitation of the Rosary. I PRAISE GOD for you and your family’s witness and for your ministry. Please pray for my deeper and ongoing conversion. St. Padre Pio, pray for us. Venerable Matthew Talbot, pray for us. St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us. +JMJ+
P.S.
The “twelve-step programmes” are even cautioned against in the official vatican document, JESUS CHRIST
THE BEARER OF THE WATER OF LIFE—A Christian reflection on the “New Age”:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html
There is no disease of Alcoholism as it is all speculation. Please read the article on the following website: www.baldwinresearch.com/alcoholism.cfm. The foundation of the twelve steps teach that you have a disease and that they have tried every possible remedy. These are lies and contradict the foundation of the moral life which are the Ten Commandments and the fact we have a fallen nature. The goal of the devil is to conquer and divide. This is exactly what he accomplishes when children of God reject the fact that we have a fallen nature. Pope Leo XIII in 1884 warned the Church in his Encyclical titled, Humanum Genus, of a society that was surfacing whose principles contradicted the Church in that there was no faith in the consequences of Original Sin which referred to our fallen nature or fomes paccati (concupiscence). These naturalists also saw the education of religion be left to the fixed opinion of the individual, including that there be no obedience to any minister of the Church and that the education and instruction of morals of our children be kept under the control of laymen. What this refers to is no fallen nature and no commandments. The two most important post-baptismal truths we must believe in. This is the foundation of the twelve steps. The Council of Trent reminds us of the following:“This concupiscence, which at times the Apostle calls sin [Rom. 6:12 ff.] the holy Synod declares that the Catholic Church has never understood to be called sin, as truly and properly sin in those born again, but because it is from sin and inclines to sin. But if anyone is of the contrary opinion, let him be anathema.” We should start parish based support groups to help those dealing with sin since intoxication is sin. AA enslaves God’s children in believing they have a disease that is incurable.
This response is for George - we are not alcoholics. We are children of the God most High. Intoxication is a sin. Alcoholism is NOT a disease. The is just a theory. The term alcoholism did not exist prior to the 19th Century. The disease concept removes accountability for our free will. I would encourage you to take a course in Thomistic Ethics and a course on the Philosophy of Man. This might help you in your understanding of our fallen nature and sin. For 2000 years we always turned to the priest for absolution. The Big Book denies the Divinity of Jesus Christ (see page 11) and says that they have tried every possible remedy (see page 31). This is sad for every person in the twelve steps and treatment centers who support the disease concept as AA does. It is no wonder then why there is only a 2.5 % recovery rate at 5 years. We need God’s grace above all else…Our spiritual continuity flows from the Sacraments. We must help these children of God who have no hope that they can be healed.
This response is to Anne - Those pictures that used to be on the Sober for Christ website were taken after my return home from prison and not before. Please do not make assumptions as at times, they may be incorrect. The only picture that was taken before was with Fr. John Corapi. Let us keep Fr. Corapi in or prayers.
God love you.
A misleading story can have a detrimental effect, more so than no story at all. There are many points of contention in Mr. Garcia’s story which needs to be pointed out.
To quote Mr. Garcia; “Now if alcoholism were really a disease, why would St. Paul condemn someone who has it?” Alcoholism is a disease, acknowledged by the AMA back in the 1940’s and so, St Paul could have easily made his statement in the first century with certainty. The fact remains that alcoholism has been a scourage on mankind since man first started crushing grapes and every means known to man has been tried in combating this disease. The facts are this, no other means has proven to be so successful as A.A. and those who think otherwise are not familar with A.A. or how it works.
To quote mr. Garcia,
Jesus Christ came to save us from sin, so if the 12 steps were necessary to do this, he would have given them to us. He didn’t do this, but he did give us his Mother, his Church and the sacraments — the most important of which is the holy Eucharist.” This is a preposterous statement and lacks any spiritual understanding. I am not sure if there anyone ever in the history of mankind who made it a goal in life to become an alcoholic, as if one actually has a choice in the matter. To suggest that Jesus did not give us the 12 steps, thus render them invalid makes no sense. Who on earth created A.A.? At first and the shallow level one can say man created A.A. But anyone with a spiritual understanding knows that it God working through man that things are created. Talk to A.A. members who will testify about divine intervention in their lives that brought them to A.A. and thus sobriety. If one does not believe that God had nothing to do with A.A. then ask the millions of recovered alcoholics around the world, who could not stop drinking on any means of their own, how they have not taken a drink in whatever time it has been for the individual.
Mr. Garcia seems to disreguard A.A.‘s role in restoring people who suffer from a chronic illness, who’s families, friends and society suffer along with the alcoholic are also restored. A.A. is an institution who have made many lives better, has brought hope to people who before had no hope and who continue to carry the message that anyone who suffers from alcoholism can become a happy and usefully whole human again with the help of A.A. and it’s 12 steps. Negative stories do no one any good when the facts do not support the stories premise. Yes there are some who may get sober through church, but the vast majority get sober through A.A. and THEN find their way back to church.
One more quote from Mr. Garcia,
“The 12 steps can mimic what the Church has to offer, thereby misleading people as to what is truly taking place. For instance, many people have told me they don’t have to go to confession because they talk with their sponsor. Then I explain that sponsors can be helpful, but they can’t forgive our sins; only a Catholic priest can do that. This is how Jesus set up his Church, as seen in John 20, when he says to his apostles, “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them.”
Confessing our wrongs to God, ourselves and another human is step 5, and yes this can be done with a sponsor, but on pg 74 of the Big Book it clearly gives direction on someone other than a sponsor to confess the wrongs done; to quote, “Those of us belonging to a religious denomination which REQUIRES Confession MUST and of course, will want to go to the properly appointed authority whose duty it is to receive it”
A.A. is not a religious society but it never says one can not practice religion of ones choosing, in fact it encouages it. Mr. Garcia is less than genuine with his portrayal of A.A. nor of how an A.A. member can practice the Catholic Faith. They are to be complimentary not oppossing. Mr Garcia does a diservice to many who are Catholic and suffering from alcoholism, nor does he give clear reasoning or insight as to how a person can both be a upstanding member of A.A. AND a Catholic living in Grace, granted to him by his creator. Under such such a way of life is to the betterment of all involved, A.A., The Church, the community, the family and the man himself. It is not an either or proposition.
There is so much more I can add, but I have said enough for now.
God Bless
Gary
Mr. Garcia, please show where A.A denies Chtist divinity? Page 11 does no such thing. The Big Book Of Alcoholics Anonymous is not and was never meant to be a religious book. It does not concern itself with religious differences among people, differences which could and would keep an otherwise worthy prospects away the recovery promised in the Big Book. The vast majority of men and who come into A.A. are agnostic at best and atheist at worst and by no means are interested in hearing of religious matters, they just want to stop drinking. Through working the 12 Steps, obtaining a relationship with God, the obsession to drink is lifted, By God! Where one takes to religious matters is clearly up to the indivdual according to his or her nature and background.
A bigger question I have for you Mr. Garcia, why the antagonistic tone you take to a program that has helped millions of people around the world? Not everybody sees the world through your eyes, let them be, but to get a column published that throughly trashes a God given solution to age old problem of alcoholism is not worthy of your denigration. Your judgement lacks fact and character. I suggest you have a conversation with Christ, maybe He will soften your heart, otherwise leave A.A. alone, you are not doing God’s work by doing what you are doing.
God Bless
Gary
Every AA group (not to mention every AA member) is autonomous. One unfortunate result of this autonomy is that “AA” is often defined by the speech, actions, success and failure of individual members, rather than by the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous. Thus there is no shortage of criticisms of “AA”.
Those suffering are wise to keep an open mind and consider the many approaches available to help. After 14 years of observing many people recover, die, or continue their addiction, it is clear that no approach succeeds for everyone, every approach succeeds for some people, and most successful people employ multiple approaches.
It may be helpful to include in this discussion Celebrate Recovery (Christ Centered recovery program), Father Dowling (Jesuit spiritual advisor to AA co-founder Bill Wilson ref http://www.barefootsworld.net/aafreddowling.html), and the literature used before the big book was written (James, I Corinthians, and Sermon on the Mount).
Dear Mr. Garcia,
Thank you for this wonderful testimony of God’s grace. Without obviating anything you have communicated, one dimension that may be helpful to keep in mind is the affect of neuro-toxins on how we respond to various things we ingest.
under our lady’s mantle,
Sue
Mr. Garcia,
I am a practicing Roman Catholic and a sober member of AA for over 20 years. I came into AA as an agnostic and found God there. I did my fifth step with a Trappist Monk who thoroughly practiced the principle of evangelize always and sometimes use words. His love and example brought me to the Catholic Church. In fact, he never once said anything to me about becoming a Catholic. The example of his life was more than enough.
I agree with some of your statements regarding AA not being enough for Catholics. It never claimed to be. In fact, it suggests that members consult with our priest, minister or Rabbi for suggestions on prayer and meditation. It also NEVER suggests doing a fifth step with a sponsor. In fact it suggests if you are Catholic, that you should do a confession at the same time, as another respondant has said.
AA’s concept of God as you understand Him was started so that Alcoholics who were Catholic, Protestant, Atheist or Agnostic, could meet and discuss spiritual issues without arguing about whose idea of God was right. AA helps the dying drunk stop drinking and get sober. From there it is the individual’s responsibility to grow in understanding of God. If there were members of AA trying to get me to believe in Catholicism when I came to AA, I probably would have left. I wasn’t interested in that at that time. I just wanted to get sober. AA leaves the higher power concept open so that more members can benefit. Some end up going astray with weird ideas, but I look at it as my responsibility as a Catholic to be a good example and let other members want to know more about what I have.
As far as the disease concept, I think you are way off. AA talks about the alcoholic having an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind. It also talks about alcoholism as being an illness. The disease concept came later through the AMA. In any case, it is irresponsible for anyone to not talk about the physical problems alcoholics have. The scientific literature is filling up with studies showing biochemical differences in alcoholics that profoundly change how the brain functions under the influence of alcohol. The disease concept is not saying the alooholic is doomed to drinking because he has a disease. It is saying that the alcoholic needs help in order to get sober. The alocoholic always has the free-will to get help, but may simply refuse to do so. It also says that the alcoholic cannot safely use alcohol in any form whatsoever.
I also believe that there are demonic influences on alcoholics. I know from some of my own experiences. However, this too can turn into “the devil made me drink” scenario which isn’t true either. The devil may tempt or torment, but he can’t force you to drink. Spiritual protection from the sacraments is an awesome help.
I think your program could be of great benefit to Catholic alcoholics, addicts and others. I think it could help Catholic AA’s strengthen their faith in some important ways. However, building your program by criticizing another that has helped millions of others, and by giving out misinformation, isn’t going to help anyone.
Peace be to you all who have commented to this point. On page 11 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson wrote, “To Christ I conceded the certainty of a great man, not too closely followed by those who claimed Him. His moral teaching – most excellent. For myself, I had adopted those parts which seemed convenient and not too difficult; the rest I disregarded.” On page 31 of the “Big Book” it says: “We have tried every imaginable remedy.” The Big Book refers to our God, the Second person of the Most Holy Trinity, as just a man and Bill took only what he found convenient and left the rest. Unfortunately, they did not try the one remedy; which works as this program denies the Divine Physician (divinity) who is Jesus Christ. In all my research as it relates to the “disease concept” and the foundation of this program, which denies the consequences of Original Sin (fomes peccati or concupiscence) simply cannot be ignored. If God’s children do not know who they are, how they were created, and what God has revealed to us through the Sacred Scriptures, then how can we overcome our sinfulness, which intoxication is a sin against the 5th Commandment. I have always said that there is good to be found in any of the twelve steps. Those who have found long-term sobriety (sobriety is the cardinal virtue of temperance or moderation) fall into the 3.5 % of those who find long-term recovery as statistics show. What about the other 96% of God’s children who need the Sacraments and the life of God in their soul? I spent 10 years in and out of treatment facilities where I was told I had a disease that was incurable; I witnessed many die from their addictions, including those who committed suicide because they fell into despair. Families and children were destroyed and broken apart because the devil snatched the father or mother from their world.
I believe it is time for us as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church to reach out to the other 95% of God’s children and reach for their hand to bring them into the Church…to the source of God’s grace…the Sacraments…the priest acting in the person of Jesus Christ. This is why our Blessed Lord died…. for our sins…. we must go after the 99 who have been led astray as Jesus tells us…we must be willing to lay down our lives for the truth…His truth, not ours…. and the truth is that alcohol intoxication is a sin and one mortal sin destroys the life of God in our soul…this has a grave impact on our emotions and behavior…Jesus Christ is the answer…His Holy Church is all we need…let us please work together in helping these children of God by initiating Family Support Groups in our parish communities and lead the suffering to the Sacrament of Mercy-Confession and the Sacrament of Love - the Holy Eucharist…let us teach them who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life…Jesus said…”know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
The truth is we are fallen as a consequence of Original Sin. In three years teaching the principles of our common and angelic doctor Saint Thomas Aquinas, we have witnessed great success and Eucharistic miracles by bringing families together to our Crucified King. The first commandment calls us to the obedience of faith and to reject everything that opposes the teachings of Holy Mother Church (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church par. 2087 & 2 088). Jesus said… “if you love me, then keep my Commandments.” Our goal as Christians is to lead His children to him, not away from Him. AA replaces the need for Jesus Christ and the worship of the true God in Holy Mass for those other 95%. It is through the Catholic Church we find a direct encounter with God through Jesus Christ in the power for the Holy Spirit. This is where we find true freedom from addictions.
God love you and your family.
I listened to Johnny Garcia’s 8 CD set thoroughly, and while he has some very good, essential points about the problems that many Catholics in AA make (i.e. about making a 5th step with a lay person and using that as a substitute for sacramental confession, etc.), I believe this has far more to do with the orthodoxy of the diocese in which the 12-step programs take place than with the essence of 12 step programs themselves. The Archdiocese of LA where Johnny lives hasn’t been known for it’s orthodoxy, but go to some meetings in a diocese that is known for it’s faithfulness and meet some of the Catholics there. You will find them to be ROCK SOLID. Johnny made several SERIOUS MISTAKES on his CD set about the history of AA (most notably, how Bill Wilson and Doctor Bob met, as well as why they divorced their association with the Oxford Groups, etc.), No mention is made about how the original draft of the Big Book was given to the Archdiocese of New York for them to REVIEW and make sure nothing in there was opposed to Catholic teaching. They responded back by requesting them to change a sentence about heaven, which AA gladly complied. I believe that it is a serious violation of the 8th commandment to continue selling this CD set without including some supplemental corrections. In fact, I think the whole set should be re-recorded after being examined by a theologian and somebody who is familiar with the history of AA. Don’t get me wrong, I have NO PROBLEM with someone pointing out what they believe to be shortcomings of 12-step programs, and I believe that Philip Maynard did an excellent and very responsible job in his 2000 book TO SLAKE A THIRST about the Venerable Matt Talbot and how he became sober. But the difference lies that Phil Maynard did so very accurately and responsibly.Pope Paul VI addressed the Calix society in 1974 and praised them for their work: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/speeches/1974/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19740511_abuso-alcool_en.html
Even though the Calix society is not officially affiliated with AA or any other 12 step programs, they regularly use the 12 step model to help them recover. Also, Pope Benedict had some very positive things to say about 12 step programs when he went to visit patients and staff at a drug rehabilitation center in Brazil in 2007 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/243411/pope_benedict_visits_drug_rehab_center_pg2.html Fr. Benedict Groeschel praises the effectiveness of 12 step programs on many of his talks on EWTN, and states that although he suffers from no addictions, he attends open AA meetings as often as he can, as he truly sees no contradiction with what they teach and the traditional Christian Faith. The late, great Jesuit Theologian Fr. John Ford S.J. (who was instrumental in the creation of Humanae Vitae) found sobriety with the help of AA and supported it for the rest of his life.
Johnny,
I very much agree with my fellow Catholic AA’s and I also do not understand your antagonistic approach. Millions have gotten sober in AA and God’s Hand is all over its work. What’s to criticize? It may not have worked for you, but perhaps that was due to your limitations at the time, not AA’s.
It is spectacular that you are doing God’s work, but you make your living from it. It makes sense that you would demonize the “competition” as many Catholics choose AA. AA has a 76 year proven track record. Your company has 5.
Let’s remember what Gamaliel said in the Sanhedrin when they were infuriated with the first apostles in Act 5:33-42, “For if this endeavor or activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But, if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
Let’s hope both efforts thrive.
God Bless the still suffering alcoholic,
Jim
I like your message Johnny, because it’s obvious you love the Church and have compassion for addicts.
I came back to the faith from living the wonderful “secular humanistic life” that our media supported in the 60’s - 70’s (but which is basically death to the soul and often the body as a consequence), thru the Al-Anon program when I was 28 years old. The message I got there loud and clear: God loves me, I am not alone in this world, God cares about me and wants the best for me. Thank God Al Anon was there. I was basically “me” centric then.
It took me a long time to want to enter the Church again because I was so deeply entrenched in sin. But at 43 after my second non consecrated marriage ended in divorce I was so broken I thought I would give Jesus a try again. So I danced around with Ev Protestantism for a while because grace sounded better to me than the Catholic view of total accountability and a judgement for what I freely chose to do in this life. It seemed better to just cover the pile of !@#$% that is sin, than actually have to personally make a dent in it afterall.
But I didn’t find peace until I made that confession (35 years away from the sacrament) and started to love and worship God again. I love being home in the Catholic church. I often wonder if I am just beginning to understand humility. And now God not only loves me—but I love God. And maybe that was the recovery I needed to make.
Thank you for the comment Jim S. Let me point out what else our Holy Father said in this article ““It is the conversions, the rediscovery of God and active participation in the life of the Church which attract even greater attention and which confirm the importance of your work. It is not enough to care for the body, we must adorn the soul with the most precious divine gifts acquired through Baptism.” He is referring to the Sacraments. Our Holy Father did not say it was compatible nor would he for the following reasons: The solution to overcoming our bad moral habits and sin is Jesus Christ; the Divine Physician. Jesus instituted Seven Sacraments that are received though His Bride, Holy Mother Church. His priests are the instruments acting in persona Christi that provide us all that we need through the ministry of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church He founded upon Saint Peter (Mat 16:18), our first pope, is the answer. For nineteen hundred years we believed that intoxication was a sin until the twelve steps and disease concept. The devil has done a fine job in leading more souls who struggle with addictions away from the truth who is Jesus Christ; the one and only Savior of the world and of the entire human race. As a result of our concupiscence our passions or emotions are disordered. We need God’s grace to do control our passions and crucify them with Jesus on the Cross. God forgives but nature never forgives. Our passions can only be kept under the control of reason subject to the intellect and will through Sanctifying Grace which only comes from Holy Mother Church. The goal of the devil is to conquer and divide. This is exactly what he accomplishes when children of God reject the fact that we have a fallen nature. Pope Leo XIII in 1884 warned the Church in his Encyclical titled, Humanum Genus, of a society that was surfacing whose principles contradicted the Church in that there was no faith in the consequences of Original Sin which referred to our fallen nature or fomes paccati (concupiscence). These naturalists also saw the education of religion be left to the fixed opinion of the individual, including that there be no obedience to any minister of the Church and that the education and instruction of morals of our children be kept under the control of laymen. What this refers to is no fallen nature and no commandments. The two most important post-baptismal truths we must believe in. This is the foundation of the twelve steps. The Council of Trent says:“This concupiscence, which at times the Apostle calls sin [Rom. 6:12 ff.] the holy Synod declares that the Catholic Church has never understood to be called sin, as truly and properly sin in those born again, but because it is from sin and inclines to sin. But if anyone is of the contrary opinion, let him be anathema.” The Big Book denies the Divinity of Jesus, rejects our fallen nature, and is not centered in obedience to the 10 Commandments. This is problematic for Catholics.
Please visit http://www.saintjoe.com/products.asp?dept=80 for CD sets pertaining to research on this subject, including the source of demonic influence and what the devil does not want you to know about sin.
May God richly bless you and your family.
JMJ
To George Nugent,
I once bought into the 12 Step mantra that the 12 Steps are the only way out for the person addicted to a substance or a behavior.After much prayer and discernment I have discovered that the 12 Steps can actually keep a person stuck in the repetitive cycle that one is permantly “diseased”. A case in point; the AA gal who is a counselor had herself sterlized because a patient of hers killed himself, therefore she did not want to bring into the world a “diseased” person.
I am not a “disease”. I am one of God’s kids. Words shape ideas, ideas shape behavior.
I have been involved in the 12 Step fellowships since 1987. Johnny is correct. I have never accepted the notion that alcoholism is a “disease”. We suffer from a dis-ease, a restlessness that leads us to gravitate towards inordinate attachments, (Read Addiction & Grace by Gerald May, psychiatrist).
Bill W. left $86,000 to his mistress in his will. (Read Nan Robertson’s book about AA). Louis knew of Bill’s adultery, she did nothing for the sake of AA (enabling a behavior???). Yet many in AA turn a blind eye to this fact. The question has to be asked, due to Bill’s active sinful behavior, of which it is recorded he was confronted on by a number of members in AA, (read Soul of Sponsorship) & AA’s refusal to address the rampant sexual acting out among members, “It’s OK to cheat on your wife, girlfriend, engage in sex with self, actively make use of pornography, as long as you don’t drink.”), by catholic teaching standards, his writings are can not edify.
As a holy orthodox priest replied when asked about a renowned catholic priest’s writings, CD’s & DVD’s, who has resigned from the priesthood,due to alleged sexual conduct with a woman, if these materials can still be used, “The materials may no longer be edifying”—that is, they may no longer morally or intellectually lift up the person who is using them.
50 years before AA Matt Talbot found and maintained sobriety by living the sacramental life of the church. The claim that a catholic drunk will go through the cycle of repetitive going to confession, get drunk again, & die can also be said of the AA, who repetitively comes through the doors of AA, goes back out & dies.
12 Step fellowships are rife with New Agers. Be wary of the “Law of Association.” I feel sorry for all of you Catholics who have been duped by the AA propaganda & believe that “AA is the one and only way to sobriety.”
AS a Holy Monsignor told me in the confessional this past spring when I mentioned I had been involved in 12 Step fellowships in the past, “The 12 Steps are merely psychological. It is only through the sacraments that we can begin to be healed and live the life God is constantly calling us to. Addictions can be overcome by living the sacramental life.” I choose to listen to a Holy priest who is living a holy life than to the words of man who refused the promptings of grace many times in his life.
God bless,
Chris
“Alcoholism is a disease, acknowledged by the AMA back in the 1940’s”
Since when does the AMA trump the knowledge of God? Alcoholism is not a disease. It is brought on by habitual consumption of alcoholic beverages. You drink enough, long enough, you can become an alcoholic, you masturbate enough, long enough to pornography you become a sex addict. The same can be said for addictive stealing, hording, eating, gambling….so, does this mean that every addiction has its own classification as a “disease”, each with its own specific gene to turn on the addictive behavior?
“Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by Thy name, and by Thy name cast out devils, and by Thy name do many mighty works?’
And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me that work iniquity.’”
Matthew 7:22-23
If every alc/addict recovered via 12 steps, religious practice, diet and exercise, psychotropic medications, or psych therapy, then this discussion wouldn’t be taking place. Unfortunately, AA rooms, churches, health clubs, and doctors’ offices contain plenty of people who remain in, or return to, addiction.
It is easy, and potentially fatal, to dismiss all these approaches based on one of more practitioners:
—“Bill Wilson was a womanizer who died of nicotine addiction, and the rooms of AA are full of sinners.”
—“Psychiatrists are on the payroll of big pharma.”
—“The priesthood is morally bankrupt.”
—“Psychologists are the ones who Really Need Help.”
—“Diet and exercise gurus are in it just for the money.”
No approach succeeds for everyone, every approach succeeds for some people, and most successful people (that I know) employ multiple approaches.
If you are seeking recovery, keep an open mind. There are many of us who have found recovery by learning what tools are available, and using them in our individual lives.
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