This seems to me to be a new low in journalism, even for the Washington Post. As we all know Sen. David Vitter’s phone number was on the DC Madam’s phone list. Vitter, in damage control mode, released a response:

“This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible. Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there-with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way.”

Then this abomination from the Washington Post blog called “The Sleuth”:

The Sleuth wondered what Vitter’s priest, Rev. Andrew Taormina, thought of the news, since he may well have been on the receiving end of that confession Vitter mentions in his statement. And we wondered whether Father Taormina would continue to allow Vitter to serve as a lector at his family’s parish — Saint Francis Xavier Church in Metairie, La. (Vitter’s wife, Wendy, is also a lector at the church, according to the senator’s bio on his Senate Web site.)
So we called Father Taormina to ask, but he declined to comment.

This is simply a wildly out of bounds and pointedly cruel act on the part of the Washington Post. Did the Post call Bill Clinton’s pastor? And what about the vaunted separation of Church vs. State? Is the Post suggesting that his religion and his job are interconnected? Should religion inform their decisions as senators? If they don’t think so (which let’s face it, they don’t) then don’t drag someone’s religion into it only when it makes you laugh. Talk about hypocrisy.

I understand why the Post believes they can run with this story is because Vitter’s a conservative. They would say they’re not interested in sex per se but the hypocrisy. Notice how many articles are labeling him a Christian conservative. Is infidelity ok if you’re a liberal?

Memo to the Post: Every single person who enters that church from the people in the pews, to the lector, and even the priest is a sinner. Every single one of us. Sin doesn’t get you kicked out of church. It is the reason we go to church.