We know that there are only 12 steps in Alcoholics Anonymous. We also know that sexual exploitation is nothing new in our fellowship: The first abuse occurred, by good account, on Anne Smith's kitchen table in late 1935.

But that wasn't a very good example. The two people involved both were newly recovering, probably confused and delighted that somebody--anybody--would have anything to do with them.

The true 13th stepper has more time in the Program and thus, because of the honest sharing of feelings and experiences that takes place in meetings, has learned how to take advantage of other people's vulnerabilities. He is usually male, but not always; is convinced that the next affair will fix everything that is wrong with him; is emotionally unavailable and terribly needful, and has a selective conscience.

The 13th stepper will ask such questions as:

a. "What is wrong with two consenting adults getting together and doing whatever they want to do?"

b. "Who's business is it?"

A. What's wrong with it is this. People come to us at the low point of their lives. They are in direful need of our help and support---the outstretched hand of A. A. The filthiest and most despicable thing we can do is use (misuse) them further, for our own gratification, with no thought as to their spiritual growth, their welfare, or their future. We become jackals in the flock.

B. It is the business of the flock. AA must protect its members, especially the newest and most helpless, from anyone who would pervert our healing Society and make it a sleazy version of "The Dating Game." We have the instrument: It’s called Group Conscience, wherein is revealed the will and power of God. That is the tool we have been given, and we need to use it.

Alcoholics Anonymous has many customs and Traditions, but one it should have and doesn't might be called the Incest Taboo and it would say, "Thou Shall Not Screw Another Member of AA." Our Founders in their wisdom didn't include such a Tradition, probably because it would have been unenforceable. God knows, even the real incest taboo isn't working very well anymore.

But until we stop practicing the 13th step, and begin confronting those who do, we are going to have to acknowledge that our hands--and our consciences--are not perfectly clean.