We
quote:
"This letter is addressed to everyone in South
Middlesex Intergroup, particularly those who attend the Ealing A.A. meetings
held at Bayham Road and the Green Man Lane Community Centre.
The South Middlesex Intergroup has received a letter
from an adjacent Intergroup, who specifically complain about an Ealing A.A.
meetings list, which promotes a non A.A. website. This website, which is
available through www........ appears to give extremely dangerous advice to A.A.
newcomers, suggesting that they should cease seeing psychiatrists and
counsellors and stop taking prescribed medication for depression and associated
illnesses, inferring that the 'Steps' will replace the drug treatment. This
advice is a gross misrepresentation of A.A. practice and must cease
forthwith.
Newcomers are in danger of interpreting the
'MESSAGE,' as given, to mean that they will not be able to participate in
the 12 Step programme, unless they come off their medication and that as a
consequence, may not be able to stay sober.
The promotion of this website breaches Guideline No.19
of the A.A. Service Handbook for Great Britain, which states: "There are no
'unofficial' A.A. Websites as such. The only websites which can truly be called
A.A. websites, are those endorsed by an official A.A. body e.g.
www.alcobolics-anonymous.org.uk.".
The "…......." website (as above) is not
so endorsed.
Further concern has been expressed about member/s
within these groups, who try to impose their personal views on a newcomer with
detrimental effect.
We now ask that all individuals, particularly
those involved with the Bayham Road and Green Man Lane Community Centre
meetings, examine their consciences as to whether any aspect of this complaint
is a reflection of their personal conduct and to ask themselves whether their
actions breach any of the Traditions, set out below:
Tradition 1 talks about “our common welfare and A.A.
unity."
Tradition 4 refers to the "autonomy of each group
except in matters affecting other groups and [should be “or”] A.A. as a
whole."
Tradition 6 suggests "An A.A. group ought never endorse
an outside enterprise, lest we be diverted from our primary purpose."
Tradition 10 says "Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion
on outside issues, hence the A.A. name ought never to be drawn into public
controversy.
It is helpful to us all to remember:
a) “as long as we
recognise that religion is the
province of the clergy and the practice of medicine
is for doctors, we can helpfully
cooperate with both."
(Bill W. Concept 12 warranty 5.)
b) "A good sponsor
never tries to impose views on a
newcomer, nor gives advice on medical, legal
or work matter. We help the newcomer
find an appropriate source of information"
(From Sponsorship: your questions answered
/ what will sponsors avoid
doing.)
c) "A.A. does not
.... Solicit members ... .... Follow up
or try to control its members; make
medical or psychological diagnosis or
prognosis ..... provide domestic or vocational
counselling .."
(From Members of the clergy asking about
Alcoholics Anonymous …... What A.A. does not do.)
d) “On several
occasions' I have had clients who were extremely suicidal
and have sought professional help. Recently two clients threatened
suicide and because A.A. members
thought they knew more than the medical
and psychological professions, the individuals almost
died."
(Alcoholism Counsellor Printed in
Grapevine May 1990.)
The content of this letter has been agreed by members
of Alcoholics Anonymous who attended the South Middlesex Intergroup Meeting on
Wednesday 31st August, 2011 and will be circulated. Copies will also be sent to
S.S.0. Islington and G.S.O. York.”
Comment: For the background to this particular drama see website for coverage of the “Ealing Experiment”. Briefly this enterprise was born out of a desire on the part of a fellow named “Happy Dennis” (no we're not joking!) to emulate the so-called “New York” model of AA meetings (essentially this refers to a number of meetings all based at the same location but opening at different times on the same day). There is nothing particularly controversial here except for the fact that this “experiment” was also founded on another “model” ie. the “cult” version of the AA programme. The Visions cult (or Joys) was founded by David B (now deceased) in Great Britain in the late 70's/early 80's. Subsequent to David B's demise his “heir” David C took over the reins (after a bit of internal wrangling), and he has vigorously propagated the cult “message” ever since. He is a co-author of the above mentioned website and moreover (and quite coincidentally) sponsor to …. you guessed it..... Happy Dennis! David C is English by birth but currently residing in the US (although he still manages to direct operations in Ealing (and elsewhere) quite effectively even from afar!) (The WHOIS details for the site may be seen here. We will leave it to our readers to “join up the dots”). In its previous incarnation it was entitled miseryisoptional.org (a domain name now employed by quite another – and unrelated – organisation). It also links up with yet another cult website (directed specifically at newcomers) which coincidentally carries virtually identical registration details.
However - and not to forget “Happy Dennis” - ever since
the “experiment” went a bit sour the “Pied Piper of Ealing” has fallen back on
the “when the ordure hits the fan, do a runner and leave it to somebody else to
clean up the mess” tactic...... a move which apparently is entirely in
character. The rumour is that our loss is Ireland's gain! No doubt, though, and
at some stage, he will return and make precisely the same mistakes again... and
again.....and..... (Now remind us! What was that definition of “insanity”
again?). But be in no doubt that the “brains” behind this outfit is David C and
that the cult network goes way beyond Ealing (see our Cult: Where to Find). In
the immediate area there are direct links between the Ealing “experiment” and
the Ormond Road meeting (Tues) in Richmond, the Hampton Wick (Friday – Lower
Teddington Rd) meetings, the Guildford Beginners meeting (Monday) (and where, we
are reliably informed, another co-author of the website is in residence) and
that members from the Bournemouth/Poole area are actively involved with the
Sunday evening Bayham Road meeting. Apparently they are even more “fanatical”
than Dennis!
South Middlesex IG are to be commended on the action
they have taken so far. However there is one quite glaring omission to their
cited list of Traditions ie. Tradition Three. We quote (long form):
3. Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence
we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend
upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for
sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have
no other affiliation.
(our emphasis).
These groups have overtly affiliated themselves with an
outside organisation. Therefore (and according to this criterion alone) these
groups may NOT call themselves AA groups.
Moreover now that South Middlesex IG has taken the
action it has (and which it will hopefully follow through on) what about the
adjacent intergroups who themselves currently host cult groups in their
respective areas eg. South West London? These also avail themselves of the above
mentioned information provided by this “outside enterprise” (albeit covertly)
employing prompt sheets (directly copied from the website) which are then
presented to newcomers in their meetings as the authentic AA message. Or perhaps
it will be another case of “look the other way”, or perhaps until yet another
newcomer dies because they've been told to “throw away” their prescribed
medication (see DRA site: Medications and Recovery)
On a lighter note the aacultwatch site has been
labelled as most unsuitable reading for newcomers in the cult groups, and we are
BANNED by the High Command! Moreover the whole website has been dismissed as
merely 'a resentment' according to these same sources! Their hope is that we're
just going to fade away........ Dream on! Just dream on!
Cheers
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics
Anonymous)
(our thanks to our reporter for the info)
