Priest Becomes AA Member after Indictment of Child Pornography

Ballwin priest sentenced to 3 years for child pornography

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Livergood said in court that in 2010 Ballwin police confiscated a computer and cellphone belonging to the Rev. William Vatterott, 37, that had been used to store and send explicit photos of a male minor. Investigators found 20 images of child pornography and emails of male genitalia.

Vatterott, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt — not in a priest’s collar — did not dispute any of the facts of Livergood’s narrative. AA Daytona member harasses locals.

 Vatterott was ordained in 2003. He was associate pastor at Holy Infant Church in Ballwin, then became pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, at 5418 Louisiana Avenue, in 2008.

In a statement, the archdiocese said Vatterott has been on administrative leave from St. Cecilia since June 2011, when officials there were told of “allegations involving inappropriate electronic communications received by a minor and an incident of underage drinking.”

“The Archdiocese has cooperated fully with federal authorities in this process,” the statement said. NA Daytona meetings in Sunrise Park refusing to pay rent.

A Holy Infant parishioner whose sons were friendly with Vatterott read a statement to the court in which she alleged actions that went beyond child pornography.

“Father Vatterott violated my sons and invaded my family with his perversions,” she said. “I am vindicated knowing we were right about this man. Priest or not, what he has done is wrong.”

Vatterott said in his own statement to the court that he was “truly sorry for what I’ve done,” and blamed his behavior on alcoholism.

“Forever in my life, I’ll be paying for these mistakes,” he said. “I’ll do everything I can to become holier, to become healthier.”

When U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber reminded Vatterott that “this was more about being a sex offender than an alcoholic,” Vatterott returned to talking about his alcoholism.

“These actions were done under the influence of alcohol,” said Vatterott, who is now enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous. “Without alcohol in my life, these kinds of mistakes will not be made.”

Asked outside court about the judge’s concern that Vatterott was blaming alcohol for his behavior, the priest’s attorney, Charles Billings, said “that was the judge’s interpretation.”

“I think (Vatterott) has taken full responsibility for all his conduct,” he said.

An Archdiocese spokeswoman said Vatterott would no longer be paid now that he had pleaded guilty. The Archdiocese will forward Vatterott’s case to the Vatican to determine whether he should be laicized, or removed from the priesthood.

http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/ballwin-priest-sentenced-to-years-for-child-pornography/article_795e37f5-c883-5481-9507-960a0ac6d2c6.html

NA AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Here is a day in the life of judges in Pittsburg PA ordering criminals to AA/NA left and right throughout the day.Where would AA/NA be without the free flowing unlimited amount of convicted criminals coming into their rooms? They would not have the financial support of our government by them mandating religious AA/NA meetings,and even going so far as to mandate that attendees get a sponsor!

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_700927.html

Some Points From an NA Member

I have been told about your site for a while now and just got around to checking it out today… of course, this topic has been floating around in recovery circles for months and considering I don’t live in Volusia County, I haven’t worried about it too much. Upon reading over your site, I have to say I agree with a few of your points and I have a couple of objections. I’m an open minded person, I’m not one to think that as soon as someone opposes twelve step recovery they are immediately wrong. I question the program a lot myself. I’ve been a devoted member of NA for over X years and I think I’m qualified to present my opinion. First, in many larger cities NA doesn’t meet in parks…its something they tend to do around here. If you care to have a party or use a park for the day, parks and recreation generally wants you to rent a pavilion or something of the sort, so I agree that using a pavilion 5 days a week for free is indeed accepting an outside contribution. Often times, there is a lot of conflict within the program about the traditions and how people interpret them. Just like laws, different people take them different ways. Also, I personally have always had an issue with the park meetings because I am not a big fan of all of the smoking and I also figure that an anonymous fellowship meeting in such close proximity to a playground or a shuffleboard court, etc… poses somewhat of a conflict of interest. I will attend these meetings, however, when I need to make a meeting and there is nothing else available. I am not able to make group decisions about meeting locations or tradition interpretation, I can only offer my opinion and my single vote. I think we are clearly guilty of taking the easiest route…as finding other meeting locations can be difficult and meeting in a park is cheap (free) and easy. I am not advocating this. I also think you raise an excellent point about drug court. In three years, I have seen very few, very very few, drug court members stay in recovery after getting off of drug court. It does not appear to be a program that works and it brings a lot of people into our fellowship that do not want to be there. To say these people represent NA isn’t fair, because our third tradition tells us that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Many of these people don’t have that, they have a desire to not go to jail. Therefore, they are not members, they are simply taking up space. I have empathy for them and hope they will hear something that will help them get clean, but a person sitting on a bench at a park who is not seeking recovery is not an NA member. Minors should not be mandated to go to NA meetings, and special consideration should indeed be taken for young women (by the courts, not by NA). Our program was not designed for people who are forced into recovery. As far as the religious aspect goes… I am an agnostic. I have no religion. I may use the word god because people in meetings prefer it, but the word itself means nothing to me. NA is not a religious organization. It is not an organization at all. We are often refused meeting space at churches because of our lack of religious affiliation. NA World Service has officially mandated we not use the lord’s prayer in our meetings. We have plenty of literature stating that we should not use any language in our meetings that may confuse a new person and lead them to believe the program is religious. The word “god” is used often in our program…but without a need for recovery, the way it is used will not be understood. Our literature literally speaks against dogma. Very literally. “God” does not reflect religion, it reflects the spiritual aspect of the program. If NA was a religious program, I would have immediately headed for the door, as nothing makes me more ill. I know very few religious people in recovery and many spiritual beings. I hope you will understand that I have taken all of your points seriously, agreed with a lot you have to say, and consider my views. NA is powerless over what the courts are doing, we cannot kick the drug court people out of meetings. Our traditions tell us we are to accept and love everyone, regardless of their past. NA has helped me find a new way to live, as it has done for countless others…but I think your heart is in the right place if you are looking out for your community. NA members should not be taking over local parks, littering, having meetings next to playgrounds, etc…but not everything you are saying is accurate. Feel free to use my letter in any capacity you wish.Thanks for reading.

AA/NA Florida-ACLU Sues Over Faith-based Rehab.Catholic Man Forced into Pentecostal Faith

Joseph Hanas,19 when placed in a diversion program for young non-violent offenders-had to fight Pentecoastals to practice his own religion! This stuff never ceases to amaze me.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:6fkbMnCN9XcJ:www.dangerthinice.org/Lawsuit%2520aa.htm+lawsuit+narcotics+anonymous&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com

Religious Rehab in Florida Sparks Protest About Mandated Florida AA Attendance

The Americans United Sarasota-Manatee Chapter has spoken out against the lack of secular (non-religious) treatment options for inmates at the Sarasota County jail.

We need more people and organizations to stand up and demand separation of church and state. To give inmates and citizens options in the Drug Courts and have probation officers step up to the plate and stop mandating Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. This practice continues in Daytona Beach,Palm Coast the state of Florida not to mention the entire nation.Let’s put in end to this unconstitutional practive now!

http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2011/04/religious-rehab-at-florida.html