If you read two columns today...

...read Victor Davis Hanson:

Many in the medieval church were criticized by internal reformers and the public at large for their controversial granting of penance, especially to the wealthy and influential...sometimes the well-heeled sinners were told to pay money to the church, or to do good works that could then be banked to offset their bad.

...Maybe it was inevitable that the old practice of paid absolution would appeal to elite baby boomers...

...Take the idea of "carbon offsets" made popular by Al Gore. If well-meaning environmentalist activists and celebrities either cannot or will not give up their private jets or huge energy-hungry houses, they can still find a way to excuse their illiberal consumption.