Robert Manwill's mother, 30, and her live-in boyfriend, 36 were charged today with first degree murder in the eight year old boy's death.

"Twelve step" programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous, are designed to help people recover from addictions, and they are also supposed to result in a "spiritual awakening."  The twelve steps of Al-anon were my first spiritual practice.  Though I have been away from the program for twenty years, it retains a special place in my memories.( A sacred space, I almost wrote. Read more...Collapse )