Just when you thought the world couldn’t sink any lower…it did.

Someone took Barack Obama’s prayer out of the Western Wall, and published it. A private communication, between a man and The Almighty, is now public. And a few of Obama’s critics are sniping at the contents. (The Anchoress, who is beside herself with shock and awe at this violation of privacy, has a full vent, and then some, right here.)

Earlier in the week, I sat in on an editorial meeting, where a senior producer revealed that there were reports that the prayer had been taken out of the wall, and that it had been published. At that point, it was just a rumor.

The executive producer, who is Jewish, was appalled. He said, “If we can confirm that, we’ll report it. But we will not report the contents of the note in the wall. Whoever did that is in serious trouble Upstairs.”

Yep. I’d say so. Among other things, this episode reveals a certain ruthlessness, along with a clear disdain for anything remotely spiritual, or prayerful, or holy.

All people of faith, not just Jews, should be sickened and angry.

In Berlin, Obama spoke at great length about tearing down walls. But here, in a sad irony, a particular wall of privacy has been breached. A sacred space has been violated. And the threshold for simple human decency has slipped even lower.

UPDATE: Evidently, the person who took the note and passed it to the press has apologized and returned it. Read more here.