Anyone who saws tonights "The Simpsons" episodes 'A Star is Born-Again' are likely as shocked and disappointed as I am. Tonight, Ned Flanders, the shows sincere (if nerdy) evangelical, had extra-marital sex with his Hollywood star girlfriend. Now, you may be surprised that it isn't the sex that has me bothered. In fact, it could have been welcome.

You see, the fact that Ned faced real, human temptation is a good thing. It also reflects that the statistics for extra-marital affairs within evangelical marraiges is much higher than you would expect. However, what has me so upset is that Ned seemed to make the decision so easily. He seemed to have only a little more internal, moral struggling with the issue than Pres. Bush regarding Iraq.

I think this show could have been a real opportunity for the evangelical fans of the show to be confronted with this issue. The Church needs to be run less like a Piety Club in Sunday best, and more like an AA meeting. Sadly, this episode is likely to do just the opposite.

This is one very disappointed fan.

Jamie Arpin-Ricci