When I was preaching in one small Mississippi town, one member of our congregation could be counted on to attack the morals and purity of others.
This fine Christian fearlessly disemboweled anyone who read from anything but the King James Version. He once went door to door, demanding to search church members' cabinets for contraband alcohol. He never hesitated to "disfellowship" people he felt didn't measure up to his own high moral standards — a practice which, for him, included calling them out in public to "expose their sins" and "motivate them to repent."
The entire time, he was cheating on his wife … with a much younger woman … who was his secretary … and his first cousin.
My exposure to this gentleman taught me Truth: those who feel the need to bolster their own status as moral guides by attacking others always — always! — have something to hide.
Recent developments in South Carolina politics are a reflection of that Truth. First came Gov. Mark Sanford: upstanding citizen, right-wing moralist, outspoken opponent of The Gays … and adulterer, "hiking the Appalachian Trail" with his Argentine mistress.
Now, it turns out that his hatefully anti-gay second in command, Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, enjoys having "boys on the side."
And, to make it a trifecta: Kristen Maguire — the Chairman of the State Board of Education, an ultra-conservative home-schooler, proponent of abstinence-only sex education, advocate for teaching intelligent design, and staunch supporter of right-wing "family values" — writes erotic fiction. Her titles include "Continental Cuisine" (it's not about eating breakfast pastry, folks) and "Lauren's Masturbatory Musings."
Maguire — who had been appointed to her post by Gov. Mark Sandford — resigned this week.
It's unfortunate … and sad … but
Add comment