For christ's sake!

/begin rant

Why is it that every major piece of news devolves into what people think about the invisible sky fairy? USA Today ran this article, originally via Reuters.

With Wall Street in turmoil, some in suits turn to religion

By Christine Kearney, Reuters

NEW YORK — As financial workers suffer through tumultuous times on Wall Street, some are turning to an old source of solace: religion.

Religious leaders said attendance was up at lunchtime meetings in New York's financial district last week, with many more people in business attire than usual.

I'd rather turn towards that old source of solace: booze. Both booze and religion will make you say and do stupid things, but at least with booze you can sober up.

A handful of men in suits and ties and women in business attire were among dozens of people at the Episcopal church, which was hit by debris from the World Trade Center collapse on Sept. 11, 2001. [emphasis mine]

What possible bearing on the story does this have? None that I can see, but apparently it's important enough to bring up again:

Just a few blocks away, St. Peter's Church has seen "a slight uptick in attendance among people in suits," said Father Peter Madigan. St. Peter's, a Catholic church, displays a cross found in the rubble of Sept. 11.

Seriously, WTF? Did Rudy Giuliani write this? It's bad enough that we're wasting time babbling about Wall Street workers going to church, but to throw in these extraneous 9/11 references; I just don't get it.

Anyway, to the punch line.

Lou Janicek, who works as a financial adviser on Wall Street, said he had not considered attending a religious service, but said Wall Street would benefit if people applied the same morals they learned in church to the workplace.

"What you do at work matters as much as whether you regularly attend church or the synagogue or whatever," said Janicek, who was brought up as a Christian. "If you are an accountant or you find yourself in an unethical situation, you can't just stand by and let it happen — then you have another Enron.

Really? People learn morals in church? And apply them to their lives? Oh, yeah, all the right-wing fundegelicals are Republicans. What a bastion of "religious" values and ethical behaviour. Right.

/end rant