February 26, 2006 | 03:13 PM

It didn't take long for great perversion to return to New Orleans; Mardi Gras is back. The event, which attracts thousands of revelers to the city each year, is once again opening the door for the public celebration of sin with the encouragement of city officials.

This week, while New Orleans still lies in ruins from Hurricane Katrina, drunken men and women are taking to the streets in the city's French Quarter section to engage in all kinds of unspeakable behavior during the annual Mardi Gras celebration. You would think that after a massive hurricane, which literally destroyed the city, officials would pass on holding the celebration of sin this year. Think again.

This really shouldn't be a surprise considering the fact that only three weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck, strippers were up on tables dancing for "crowds of police, firefighters and military personnel" in the Bourbon Street club called "Deja Vu," Reuters reported.

The Associated Press confirmed through State Police Trooper Arrid Hansell that Mardi Gras is a time when "police tolerate flashing breasts, simulating sex acts, and generally lascivious behavior." In other words, police are welcoming revelers to expose their breasts, engage in simulated sex acts and other lascivious behavior, including public drunkenness, without fear of retribution or arrest.

Last year, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans days before a homosexual version of Mardi Gras called "Southern Decadence," I made some statements explaining God's patience and control. A few days ago, a woman by the name of Karen wrote to me in regards to these statements and about this year's Mardi Gras celebration. She wrote:

"I am a spirit-filled Christian from New Orleans. I have only been saved for 5 years now, but the impact Jesus has on my life is amazing!

I read your article concerning the indulgences of our 'Mardi Gras,' and would like to thank you for your honesty. As Pastor from Victory Fellowship says, 'We have to be delivered from Mardi Gras.'

I have children and want the best for them. New Orleans, under its current rebellious status, is not the place for children. I am ashamed that my city is celebrating Mardi Gras when we still have dead bodies in the rubble!

And yes, we all (the citizens of N.O.) had a part to play in this. I should have gone to the City Council like so many others. Instead, we did nothing. God forgive me for my actions.

Now, I look at scraps of the city that I called home.

It makes me cry when I hear... 'NOTHING WILL STOP MARDI GRAS - NOTHING.'

I KNOW that my city is in deep trouble if we do not change our ways. I had a horrible nightmare regarding my city a few weeks ago. I do not want to be here anymore, ever.

And yes, I will go out Mardi Gras day. I will go out and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to anyone that will hear.

God Bless you for being so candid. Pray for us.... we need it."

It is my hope that other Christians, like Karen, will rise up in New Orleans and raise a standard of righteousness before another storm makes Hurricane Katrina look like a morning shower.

The Mardi Gras celebration, with roots in Catholic ritual, comes to an end on "Fat Tuesday," which falls on February 28 this year, so that "repentance" for sins can be made the following day on "Ash Wednesday."

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light." (Ephesians 5:11-13)