Yet more misquotes of Tradition Four

(see AA Document Library – Guidelines Handbook)

From Chapter Nine: Probation/Criminal Justice Service of the above Handbook under “9:3 Groups”:

Here we are informed that: “ Each group is autonomous and how it chooses to co-operate (if at all) with Probation/Criminal Justice Service is for the group conscience to decide.”

Incorrect: What Tradition Four actually states is:

“Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole” (our emphasis)

and in the long form:

It is clear from the above that each group is (contrary to the information provided in the AA handbook would you believe!) NOT unconditionally autonomous and therefore it is NOT simply down to the group conscience to decide whether it does or does not participate in the 'chit' (or court mandated attendance) system.

This misinformation is repeated in a later section (9:5 Setting up a Confirmation of Attendance/Chit System):

“Each group, intergroup or region is autonomous and free to use any method it sees appropriate.”

At this point we refer you to the Bill Wilson's discussion of this tradition in the 12 and 12 in particular the example (imagined) he cites of a particularly ambitious “promoter” in AA. We would suggest that the current ambitions demonstrated by some in the fellowship move well beyond cooperation with the probation service taking us in the process into some very treacherous territory indeed. We are not and never should be an adjunct of the sentencing system. If people are referred to us (or even compelled to attend) by the courts that's the courts' business not ours. But it is NOT OUR BUSINESS to facilitate this process beyond mere cooperation. The provision of chits etc in whatever form means we are quite literally endorsing government policy in this area – again something we're not supposed to be doing (see Preamble and relevant traditions). No matter how the system is designed no group, intergroup or region can implement such a system without breaching these principles. And as we've pointed out before the whole point of principles is you're supposed to observe them especially when it's most inconvenient …... otherwise they AREN'T principles! To act otherwise simply makes us hypocrites!

We don't often suggest revisions to AA literature but we believe there's one amendment to the above tradition which would do much to eliminate this form of error. Not exactly a rewording - more a re-ordering!

“Except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole each group should be autonomous”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS See here for more discussion on the chit system both in Great Britain and the US

PPS These misrepresentations are carried over into proposed revisions included in the following document:

Conference questions (GB 2015) Background Committee 6 Question 2 Revised Chapter 9