Private affairs

By M.D., A.C.M. & G.D.

The international acceptance of adultery

ON APRIL 17th the New Hampshire Senate is due to decide whether to legalise adultery. A 1791 law calls for whipping, jail time and ruinous fines for breaking the sixth commandment. The penalty has grown lighter since then, and is never enforced. But formal legalisation will finally allow Granite staters to stray without fear of any punishment besides losing their spouse, house and custody of the kids. Americans are far more likely to disapprove of adultery than people in other rich nations, especially the French. They have grown more likely to frown at cheaters over the years—in contrast to their attitudes to gay sex, which have softened enormously. The data on international attitudes come from an interactive report released this week by the Pew Research Centre. It looks at how 40 countries judge the morality of controversial issues from abortion and premarital sex to contraception and divorce. How might America look if its politicians acted like French ones? Well... (Our article in the latest issue on New Hampshire's vote is here.)