Does Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc (AAWS) or the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc (GSB/GSO) or the Grapevine provide ANY LEGAL guidance for Sponsors and Sponcees?

JR Harris's picture
Submitted by JR Harris on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 13:10

The collective thoughts of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are governed by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc (AAWS), the General Servile Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc (GSB/GSO) and the Grapevine, Inc (GV). All three corporations publish "suggestions" in various forms, culminating with the 12 Step which is "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs." In a nutshell, the 11 Steps before the 12th are training for position of "Sponsor" in Alcoholics Anonymous and no groups are legally left out.

There are no checks and balances in the 11 Steps before the 12th Step and anyone in AA can be a Sponsor. While it is true that it is "suggested" that Sponsors have at least 1 year sobriety prior to attempting this position, that is not a rule, law or directive and it is often ignored. There are no checks and balances in this one year sobriety, except the Sponsor to be and his word that it is true and many AA members start Sponsor relationships way before the 1 year mark. Another often broken "suggestion" is that the Sponsor/Sponcee relationship should be of the same sex which is also broken at will.

The criminal background of a Sponsor is not taken into account in any of the literature of AA and no minimum or maximum guidelines exist. Because there are no enforceable guidelines in AA, a murder, rapist, pedophile, career criminal or local thug can become a sponsor. Often times these people even attain very high spokesmen positions at the Sponsorship, Intergroup and conference levels inside AA.

The most notorious example of a convicted criminal rising to the elite positions in AA is that of Clancy I of the Pacific Group in California. Not only has this person had multiple arrests(updated from original), but he has attained the power to run the Pacific Group and its associated Sponsorship group. The worst example of this arrangement was the "Midtown Group" of Mike Q in Washington DC who was the Sponcee of Clancy I and managed the infamous position of managing the 13 Stepping, opposite sex Sponsor/Sponcee relationships and a general misuse of the power given him through his association with Clancy. The people who associate and admire Clancy I, often have the same attributes of these destructive practices in AA and should be used as a warning to those that associate with him.

"You're judged by the company you keep" - John F Kennedy

Comments

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 13:21

Indeed. But I don't think Clancy has spent much time in jail. He might have been convicted of minor crimes decades ago, but nothing major as far as I know.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Clara's picture

Clara

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 13:24

Clancy was in jail for stuff like public drunkenness and vagrancy. He's also been sober for 53 years.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 13:30

Upon further analysis, Clancy did not spent "years in jail" and it was updated to state "multiple arrests."

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

massive's picture

massive

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 13:24

Ask "Keeper of The Birds" about her sons pedophile AA sponsor who molested and raped and murdered her son for starters.

Massive

Clara's picture

Clara

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 13:27

It doesn't seem that Keeper holds AA responsible for a multi state pedophile ring anymore than she holds it responsible for an AA leaving her son a 700k piece of property. There is much there that is wrong but also some stuff that just doesn't add up. I have a friend with a christmas tree farm in that area, the Sydlo family, and this entire case was awful.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

avogadno's picture

avogadno

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 14:03

I don't get why it is difficult to recognize that there is potential for sponsorship that is dangerous under the bullshit/nonexistent guidelines in AA. It's an invitation for abuse to occur. Maybe because we know ourselves to be good, decent people and take for granted that anyone else that is also trying to improve their lives along "spiritual principles" are also good.

That abuse occurs under the guise of helping another is shocking. That it is allowed to occur and people support this lack responsibility is beyond me. This is exactly the kind of situations that sick individuals seek out. AA offers this on a silver platter.

I came to this realization after watching the man that violate me go through a year long trial and finally get sentenced for his sexual crimes that by definition originated because he had too much control.

I was part of the program at the time of "Ralph's" sentencing and found out later that he began participating in AA while in prison. Prisoners get good marks for getting involved in similar activities and it also fills some gaps of boredom. If he doesn't change his values by his own accord it's gonna happen when he gets out in a few years.

It's an eye-opener to know that Ralph will have years of clean time, have worked the steps (honestly or not), and be sponsor material when he walks out the doors and is escorted to a meeting by the fellowship. Within days he'll be allowed to obtain sponsees, and no one will know who Ralph is or what he had done... boys included! OK, so I imagine that a nearby treatment center will push their clients to meetings and insist they get a sponsor. It can be Ralph and it WILL be Ralph. The only thing that will stop him from taking advantage and sexually assaulting more innocent is if he decides to stop doing it himself. What are the odds of that happening?

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