Look at the sort of mind control that goes on in Catholicism. There are monks that a Pope can say "go on a mission and kill this person" and they comply without question.
LOL. That is *not* true. Priests are forbidden from such things and a pope would never order another to sin (much less a mortal sin). And religions are *much* different than cults.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=26988&start=15#p326395Most programs including AA profess some connection to it. Confession is a cornerstone. Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda was Catholic. Mengele, the Nazi Doctor was as well.
During WWII, while the Catholic church did not openly oppose the Nazis (that would be the end of them if they did), they *did* hide Jews and other "undesirables" from the nazis. Some priests were quite active in the resistance.
So what if some Nazis were (bad) Catholics. it doesn't make all catholics bad or all catholics nazis.
And FYI, AA doctrine contradicts Catholocism and Chrisitanity in general in quite a number of places.
Please don't make me defend the Catholic Church. I don't like doing it. There is plenty to criticize (pedo priests, stance on homosexuality, stance on condoms), but you're way off base saying comparing Catholocism to a program. Most Cathloics don't even bother going to confession more than once a decade and there are no "consequences". The priest also doens't try to call you a liar and make you confess to more than you did.