Why is it that, in the interests of authenticity, transparency—and to salvage a career—a person will confess to all manner of sins, from porn addiction, drug abuse and infidelity to violent crime and even child abuse. But they won’t admit to being a racist.

In defending his vitriolic, n-word-filled attack on a black heckler at a 2006 comedy show, Seinfeld‘s Michael Richards contended, “I’m not a racist.”

In a recent recorded phone conversation, Dog the Bounty Hunter‘s Duane Chapman repeatedly used a racial slur to describe his son’s girlfriend. He assures us it was taken out of context.

Whether following a police beat-down or a road-rage incident, the commonly-uttered defense “I’m not a racist” is usually thrown out to protect one from accusations of what has now become the unforgivable sin.

It’s become perfectly fashionable for a community leader to admit to all manner of indiscretions with reassurances such as “Nobody’s perfect,” “I made a mistake” and “I’m working through my issues with a counselor.”

But I’m guessing it’s going to be a while before you hear someone say something like this: “I’ve been dealing with ethnic prejudice for years. Bottom line is, I’m a racist, and I need help. I’ve been hiding this dark side of myself very well, but in a time of stress, my true colors were revealed.”

In an age when public confession has become a mark of authenticity, one is more likely to hear a straightforward admission of criminal offense such as drug possession, prostitution or tax fraud than a perfectly legal social offense like racism, sexism or homophobia.

It’s clear that some sins are still taboo … and not the ones we would expect.

Verily I say unto you, there was once two priests who were brothers, and, behold, the wife of one of the brothers was barren after bearing a daughter. And, yea, that wife and the priest sought out the wisdom of the physicians of the land, and, behold, the physicians declared that it was the priest whose seed was corrupted, and not the womb of his wife. And, lo, that wife wept and cried to the Lord with great supplication and said, “O Lord, when wilt thou grant thy maidservant a manchild, that she may delight in his ways and carry on the name of thy maidservant’s husband?” And, behold, the woman’s heart leapt within her as she considered the countenance of her husband and that of her husband’s brother. Yea, they were as one and winsome in appearance. Thus, she purposed in her heart to discuss this matter with her husband and with her husband’s brother. And, behold, not many days hence, the brother of the priest with the corrupted seed went into her, and she conceived and bore a son, and they called his name Donnie. And, lo, they covenanted together to not reveal to Donnie or to the people of the land that which they had wrought. ….

… until now.