One of the arguments often offered as a justification of the value of religion to society is that it offers a moral compass - us atheists, heck humanity as a whole would just be a bunch of lying, thieving murdering philandering scum were it not for the rectitude and moral leadership of the church.... I am sure we have all heard that argument :)
Gotta love this story in the NY Times then.... venal, bling- wearing church leader flashes a ridiculously,ostentatiously expensive watch, which is caught in a press image. Then, the church - when questioned about the suitability of a church leader wearing bling worth more than most can earn in a year - rather than fessing up and castigating the wearer of said jewellery, promptly attempts to back the lies and denials being fed to the media by the head of their russian orthodox church by photoshopping the image to remove the watch!
Yet another example of the self serving nature of many of those in the church, it seems to me...
http://www.nytimes.co...s-sleeve.html?_r=3&hp