How high must the fidelity bar be ??

     There is an old adage "Just because you're on a diet doesn't mean you can't read the menu."  While it may have originated as advice to support those who are on diets, it seems that many who are otherwise in 'loving and committed' religious-based relationships have taken such advice to heart...some see no issues in ordering from the menu as well.
      In recent weeks, we are reminded that politicians (and those that have publicly desired to become one, like Herman Cain), the very lawmakers in America that have written laws (like DOMA) based on the Defenders of Marriage cries and petitions for protection of the Sanctity of Marriage, have demonstrated their ability fall short of their goals of matrimonial faithfulness.
     Let's be reminded of the 'legal argument' Defenders of Marriage used to petition for the DOMA law, and why many of the very lawmakers who voted to legislate it (and potential politicians to execute those laws) are unable to stand by their supposed principles - Protect the Sanctity of Marriage at all cost!!
     A foundational tenet and obligation of marriage is fidelity. Merriam-Webster defines fidelity as 'quality or state of being faithful.'  In the bible, God equates marriage to a Covenant (Malachi 2:13,14,16), furthermore Paul in Ephesians 5 states that marriage is analogous to the relationship between Christ and the Church. 1 Peter 4:8 states, "above all hold unfailing your love for one another since love covers a multitude of sins."
     What is an acceptable level of fidelity?   Let's check with a politician wanna be, Mr. Herman Cain,... In the course of 3-4 weeks, a total of four woman have made allegations against him which have called into question is streak of non-fidelity. At first, we learned of allegations of inappropriate sexually suggestive behavior toward a two female employees while he was President of the National Restaurant Association.  Then a third, female ex-staffer complained that he displayed aggressive and unsolicited behavior, including suggestive remarks and inappropriate gestures. She claimed that he even invited her back to his apartment.
     During that period, we learned of the somewhat questionable website for the  Women for Cain, an online national fellowship of women that has as its National Chairperson none other than his wife Gloria Cain, that is dedicated to helping elect Herman Cain as the next President of the United States.
     Perhaps, marital fidelity has a bar set at 2 or 3 occurrences of unfaithfulness? Just when it was thought we were all ready to accept this, next comes a fourth woman, Ginger White, a longtime friend of Cain's, told an Atlanta-based Fox affiliate that they had engaged in a consensual, 13-year-long extramarital affair.
     After Mr. Cain was unable to deny this fourth occurrence and check with his wife, Gloria, today Herman Cain, potential executive agent of the DOMA law as President, just announced in a press conference that it's just not meant to be.
     Perhaps, we may have found at least one level of a marriage sanctimony fidelity bar that the American public is just not able to accept!  (Photo courtesy of Friends of Herman Cain, Inc.)