The Question: What does the Eliot Spitzer scandal say about our public and private morality? Should he have resigned?

In the barely concealed glee that accompanied Gov. Spitzer's downfall, there's been a consistent theme: hypocrites deserve what they get. There was plenty of fuel for such a judgment, since Spitzer signed into law the nation's toughest penalties against men who solicit prostitutes. He was a zealous moral policeman, now ensnared in his own traps. But we shouldn't miss the prime issue here, which can be stated as a question: How much good have the moral police ever done? A predictable number of hellfire preachers have turned out to be Elmer Gantry, and some sheep-faced politicians who made a show of public piety pursued private sexual shenanigans. The spectacle is sad, laughable, unstoppable, and as old as the id.

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The Question: Which "ism" is more entrenched in America, sexism or racism? Which should religion address?

Before the question can be answered, the air needs clearing. Sexism and racism are rooted in unevolved consciousness, and both will be solved when consciousness rises. They aren't going to be solved from the pulpit, however. Catholicism will retain its traditional sexism, both spoken and implicit. Southern Baptists will remain covertly or overtly bigoted in racial matters. Protestantism in general will likely keep a genteel distance away from social action. I can't see choosing between racism and sexism to begin with -- both are throwbacks to an outworn attitude that promoted white males to special privilege in God's creation. Religion was one of the chief bulwarks of this world view, so turning to it for a remedy seems ironic. I'd put much more trust in the growing spiritual movement outside the church.

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