Adelphoi,
I got this message today and it caused a deep sigh within me. I had thought of Bennett as a man of high virtue - see his book, The Book of Virtues - but he is like too many of us merely a weakling... Original sin and the temptations of the world are very real in all of us.
Dear Friends,
I remarked to a friend a few days ago that while I hold many positions that would be identified as conservative, I have always resisted being identified as one, because most stripes of political conservatism are not grounded in a Christian mindset. Unfortunately, this article illustrates why -- not just in Bennett's conduct, but in the facile rationalizations made for it by him and his conservative allies, which precisely echo those of the modern sexual libertines who claim that any form of sexual conduct is morally justifiable so long as the parties involved are consenting adults able to handle the consequences and (supposedly) "nobody gets hurt." It brings to mind C. S. Lewis' astute observation about the justifications for extra-marital sexual activity, as not recognizing fornication to be a form of theft, being like having a morality that says it is wrong to steal fruit except for oranges. Too many political conservatives have the same mindset when it comes to the acquisition and use of money -- there is no notion of fidelity, stewardship, Christlike self-denial and discipline of the bodily and emotional appetites, and accountability before God.
Faithfully, (name supplied to PT)
Relentless Moral Crusader Is Relentless Gambler
May 3, 2003
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
WASHINGTON, May 2 - William J. Bennett, author of "The Book of
Virtues" and one of the nation's most relentless moral crusaders, is a
high-rolling gambler who has lost more than $8 million at casinos in
the last decade, according to online reports from two magazines.
The Washington Monthly said on its Web site that "over the last decade
Bennett has made dozens of trips to casinos in Atlantic City and Las
Vegas, where he is a `preferred customer' at several of them, and
sources and documents provided to The Washington Monthly put his total
losses at more than $8 million."
Continue article: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/03/national/03GAMB.html
Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company
The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
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