Hi, Teresa —

I've never heard that (AA) Alcoholics Anonymous is cultish. There may be some groups that could be run better, but I would say they are the exception to the rule. My colleagues may have a comment on this as well.

I see nothing wrong at all with holding hands with others and saying The Lord's Prayer with others who are going through similar struggles.

I think your minister is referring to 2 Corinthians 6:14-15:

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

2 Corinthians 6:14-15

I think we have to make a distinction between being yoked together with others on a long-term, serious basis and sharing common interests and problems among strangers struggling in this life.

Applying your minister-friend's criteria in this situation, the big sinner is the person who brought your minister-friend to Jesus. That person, according to your minister-friend should not have reached out to him. Through friendship and over time, we can share what the fullness of Christianity (Catholicism) can do for people who we have become friends with. Your witness can bring people closer to Christ, Our Lord.

If, a person:

• had no interest in learning about God or Christianity, (like the Jews in Scriptures who rejected the Good News Our Lord offered) it would be a waste of time.
• Paul also tells us in 1 Timothy not to get into useless arguments.

Some people will want to debate you because they feel insecure in their atheism, agnosticism, or whatever other faith they believe in.

• Constructive back-and-forth dialogue: Yes
• Useless dialogue where someone is trying to feel secure in their belief and is closed to anything you have to say: No.

As Catholic Christians we should never be ashamed to dialogue on issues of the faith.

St. Peter tells us:

15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

(1 Peter 3:15-16)

If we don't know an answer to a question we should say:

I don't know, but let me ask one of my Catholic friends, and get back to you.

This achieves two important goals:

1. it gives you time to study and research a question under no pressure, and
2. gives you a reason to strike up, hopefully, a fruitful conversation again, next time you meet.

Hope this helps,

Mike

Hi Teresa,

I just returned from my 11-12midnight adoration hour.  I'm reading the epistles of St. Paul for the Pauline year that has just finished.

I said previously:
Paul also tells us in 1 Timothy not to get into useless arguments as well.

Actually he addresses this in 1 Timothy 1:3-4 and 2 Timothy 2:23 Timothy as well as in Titus 3:9 though Pauline authorship of some of these epistles are in question. 

I would read all three of these very short epistles to see both my point and your minister-friend's point.

Mike

Teresa —

The quote your minister is referring to is, Be not yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14) — and it doesn't refer to holding hands to say the Lord's prayer.

We are all children of our heavenly Father, and if someone is willing to say that prayer, we can join with him or her.

As for A.A., the Church has no official position, pro or con, though she does sponsor many A.A. groups, and the A.A. principles are not contrary to Catholic teaching (as a matter of fact, much of the writing of the Twelve Steps book came from a wise, old priest, and the original programme outlined in the Big Book came from an Evangelical movement in England). Some people have stretched them a bit, but that is their choice, and not intrinsic to them.

The core of A.A. is the program. The meetings help people do the program but some people use the meeting itself to keep them going. In this day, when so many people have no catechesis or religion or faith at all, people do tend to really grab onto the first thing that introduces them to faith in an authentic way, and A.A. does that, and becomes a sort of religion for many people.

They could do worse!

God bless you! — If you are in A.A., then you have done things that most people take a lifetime to learn, and I am proud to make your acquaintance.

Mary Ann