Senator David Vitter hopes he has put his troubles behind him after the very brief news conference he and his wife Wendy held Monday at a Metairie hotel. Mrs. Vitter called for everyone to show grace to them to protect their children. Others in the community have echoed that plea. Couple of quick comments.

It’s not just that the senator consorted with prostitutes, as bad as that is. It’s that his own words–uttered when President Clinton was being assailed for his dalliance with Monica Lewinsky–condemn him. At that time, he called Clinton a moral failure, unworthy to hold that hallowed office, and urged him to resign. If there’s a difference here, we haven’t found it yet.

The other thing is this. When a public figure, whether a preacher or a politician or whatever, decides to ignore his family’s welfare and do something horrendous, not to say stupid, like this, then would someone please explain where he gets off asking us to protect his children when it becomes public. Wasn’t that his job in the first place, and didn’t he fail to do it? And isn’t he asking to have it both ways: to have his fling but not have to pay the consequences.

I am in favor of protecting the children. And I admire the wife for her strength and loyalty.

The talk shows and newspapers are saturated with citizens defending and damning Vitter, who has always seemed a very decent sort, if perhaps not the sharpest knife in the drawer. His counterpart, Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu, however, creates the impression of being the brightest girl in the class, the one brainier than all the rest of us, someone created to be a senator.

Let a public figure fall from his or her lofty position and invariably religious types who support the person call out, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” A quotation from John 8:7. The answer to that, of course, is that we’re not throwing stones. When Jesus uttered those words, He was referring to literal stones. Some had suggested executing a woman caught in immoral behavior using as their authority this ancient Old Testament practice wherein the community would assemble and stone the individual to death. The custom, which can be found in numerous passages, specified that the witnesses–those bringing the charges–would cast the first stone (Deuteronomy 17:7), which put a damper on that custom, I expect. People bringing charges would have to take responsibility for their actions, not a popular thing then or now.

But, before moving on, let me simply point out that to say one is unqualified for public office because of a betrayal of public trust is not casting stones. To turn his own words on him and call for his resignation may seem drastic to his supporters, but it is not casting stones. To cast stones is to throw rocks. Big distinction.

As the offender, Senator Vitter has no right to demand mercy from the community; as a Christian, I have no alternative but to extend it.

One year ago today, Louisiana’s Attorney General Charles Foti brought charges against Dr. Anna Pou and two nurses for contributing to or causing the post-Katrina deaths of four patients in Memorial Medical Center, known for nearly a century as Baptist Hospital. A few weeks ago, it was announced that he was offering to drop the charges against the nurses if they would testify against the doctor, which they rejected. Meanwhile, DA Eddie Jordan still has not indicted any of the three. A radio talk show host pointed out today that the only supporter which A-G Foti has among district attorneys in the entire state is Mr. Jordan, but even he has not brought the matter to a grand jury.

Today, Dr. Pou has brought a lawsuit against Mr. Foti. Doctors and nurses from the region are holding a rally in support of her at City Park, at this very moment.

New Orleans’ Recovery czar Ed Blakely keeps saying the magic words: “We’ve turned the corner; the recovery is in motion.” Since he cannot point to the rebuilding of any of the 17 areas targeted for early comeback, he points out that new sporting events are coming to town, conventions that were canceled are being rebooked, and new street lights and signs are going up. However, we’re still waiting on the hundreds of millions of dollars from state appropriations and from voter-approved bond issues, needed to get key areas on the fast road to recovery.

Op-ed columnist Stephanie Grace says it’s fair game to inquire into Mayor Nagin’s future plans, since he has a campaign war chest of $500,000, and has hinted that he might want to seek some other office. She says if Nagin did not want to be mayor, he had the opportunity to bow out gracefully as Kathleen Blanco has done with the governor’s race. But instead, he said he wanted the opportunity to “make things right.” That, she maintains, is a full time job. “Other governments, at other times, might be in good enough shape to run on autopilot, but not here, and definitely not now.”

In this bizarre time in the life of this most unusual of all American cities, I can think of few things more strange than this mayor running for election to some other office. I mean, wouldn’t it be wise for him to seek a change of venue where people do not know him?

Want to help start a new church in New Orleans?

Monday and Tuesday, October 1 and 2, we’re hosting a “Vision Tour” in which pastors from outside our area will learn about neighborhoods where we need new churches. They will hear from seminary students who are going door-to-door in those areas and studying the demographics, they will meet and hear from local pastors, and from denominational leaders as to how to partner with these start-up ministries. Pastors interested may contact me at joe@joemckeever.com. The North American Mission Board will pay the expenses of a number of those coming. We’re targeting from 6 to 9 areas of the metro area as ripe for new Baptist churches.

Over at my house, Nancy Drew has been discovered.

Margaret and I are blessed with four granddaughters who are in the 9-10 year range right now, just ripe for discovering this teenage sleuth who has influenced so many young ladies over the decades. Our church library has a complete set of the Nancy Drew mysteries, and so a few days ago, Abby and Erin and I–they’re the Metairie twins, age 10–started reading number one, “The Mystery of the Old Clock.” We pull the dining room chairs up in front of the picture window and watch the rain fall, and take turns reading. We will finish this one tomorrow, just in time to begin number two on Thursday when their cousin–and our granddaughter, of course–Darilyn, just now making 10, arrives for a visit from North Carolina.

Darilyn’s mom Misha tells us a friend gave her four Nancy Drews for her birthday. (The other 9 year old granddaughter, JoAnne Peters, lives in far-off New Hampshire and cannot sit in on these grandpa-granddaughter readings, to my great regret.)

Ginger Twiggs Davis, wife of David and mother of Moira and Madison, e-mailed me this week with a cute line from 5 year old Moira. She was feeling in and around her neck when she suddenly sat up and said, “Daddy, I’ve found my extension cords!”

I hope you’ve found yours. We all need to stay connected to the power. The Power, that is.