Alcoholics Anonymous is a Religion

[Vulgar Freudian]

Every American appellate court that has addressed the issue in recent years has determined that AA and similar 12 step programs are religions for First Amendment establishment clause purposes, hence atheist prisoners and defendants cannot constitutionally be required to attend 12 step programs.

Griffin v. Coughlin, 88 N.Y.2d 674, 673 N.E.2d 98, 649 N.Y.S.2d 903 (N.Y. 1996), Kerr v. Farrey, 95 F.3d 472 (7th Cir. 1996), Warner v. Orange County Dept. of Probation, 827 F. Supp. 261 (S.D.N.Y. 1993), Evans v. Board of Pardons and Paroles, 56 S.W.2d 478 (Tenn., 1997).