Sympathy for Lara "caught in adultery"

Lara Bingle, a "swimwear model" has recently had a naked photograph of her published in a popular women's magazine. At the time of the photo she was in the shower and the photo was taken by her lover, a married professional footballer. Lara has now taken legal action against the footballer.

What has surprised me is the way many are speaking about her. Here are some comments posted on the SMH website.

"And why was she naked in the first place ?! Yeah, having an affair with another woman's husband really advances women's rights"

"Wasn't she having an affair with a married man at the time the photo was taken. Yet she is concerned about her image."

While there was some support for Lara, these comments just reminded me about the woman caught in adultery and thrown at the feet of Jesus for condemnation. Lara was caught out doing something wrong, but we have been quick to condemn her. I wonder how Jesus would have reacted. Jesus told that woman to sin no more, but also did not condemn her. Can we learn something from this example?

Firstly, when I saw the (pixelated) photo what struck me was the look on her face. She was a 19 year old girl with an older man, and looked embarrased, even frightened. I felt sorry for her, imagining her as my daughter grown up and vulnerable. Yes she had done the wrong thing, but was not deserving of the public ridicule. Perhaps we need to remember how open to doing silly things we were when we were 19.

Lara has been brought up in a society, where free sexual expression without boundary is the norm, in some way she was doing just as she had learned at our feet. I watched Richard Dawkins last night say how appalled he was at morality which restricted what people did with their genitals, it was a matter for them alone. Richard would be proud of Lara's actions I can only imagine.

The negative reaction, shows us a couple of things. We hold double standards, thinking we have a right to freedom while castigating others for it. We also have a streak of jealousy. Lara is rich, young and beautiful and we take a strange delight in seeing such people fall.

Despite her "sins" nothing makes it acceptable to take photos of your "conquests" for your own delight. Yet we shared in the footballers sin, he caused the photo to be published and we lapped it up. It is interesting that it was not published in men's magazine, but a women's magazine to indulge our love of gossip.

Maybe some sympathy can be garnered for innocence lost, and some acknowledgement of our own part in this. Don't get me wrong, both Lara and her lover are culpable, but as a society we opened the door for adultery and then slam it shut when it suits us.

A better line of approach might be to say "Neither do I condemn you... go now and leave your life of sin." It encapsulates judgment and love; it is called mercy!