It’s nice to hear marital success stories every once in a while.

There’s a couple I know, been married about 30 years. Earlier in the marriage people had suspicions that the guy was fooling around (and he probably was), but nothing went public until a fling about ten years ago. Most people thought the wife should have left him; I guess that would be the reaction in most cases. But she didn’t. They both got good counseling, and they stayed together.

I remember hearing a seminar speaker say many years ago, “Adultery is grounds for divorce. But it is also grounds for forgiveness.” In this case, the wife opted for forgiveness. Some folks are cynical about her motives, since he’s a successful guy. But how can you fault her for determining to save a marriage?

Today, by all appearances, they have a good, strong marriage. They both have a great relationship with their daughter, a really fine young woman who is becoming a successful professional. There are plenty of cynics who suspect he’ll go AWOL again–and maybe he will. But right now, I look at a marriage that has been restored, and it makes me feel good. It should make all Christians rejoice.

But because it’s Bill and Hillary Clinton, we’re not allowed to feel good about it, and certainly not commend them. Why is that?