Why Doesn't Adultery Sting Anymore?

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Has anyone else been following the story of Senator John Ensign having an affair with the wife of his co-chief of staff? I'm amazed and appalled. I'm not just upset with how he cheated on his wife and Mrs. Hampton cheated on her husband. It's worse than that. Our society has really deteriorated to the point that the adultery does not seem that bad anymore as long as you don't get caught. Our laws seem more concerned that Ensign may have paid off that Hamptons to keep them quiet about the affair then they are about his broken marriage vows. Yes, the cover-up was wrong and unethical, but look at where the emphasis is placed. The message being sent is not that Adultery is wrong and evil and will destroy you and your family. The message is "don't get caught".

I think clearly Doug Hampton wants Ensign to pay. I don't blame him.

Hampton makes clear through the interview he isn't going away quietly and believes Ensign abused his power in pursuing the affair. Ensign's legal team has said it's confident that all laws and ethics rules were followed in the case, which includes Ensign helping Hampton gain employment with a lobbying firm as well as Ensign's parents providing the Hamptons with a payment of nearly $100,000 that they described as a gift.

I want to know why faithfulness to one's marriage is not part of those "laws and ethics" in our government and society? It used to be that cheating on your spouse brought condemnation and shame, not congratulatory "hi-fives". I like to put this in the perspective that God so hates adultery that in a theocratic ancient Israel, adultery carried the same penalty as murder. You and the one you cheated with were executed. I'm not advocating that we go back to those penalty just to those attitudes of abhorring adultery.

watch the interview

Senator's Affair Revealed in Text Message