I'm having a lot of trouble with this one. I can't imagine a "spirtual adviser" advising a special trip to NY just to call it quits with the mistress. I would expect the adviser to say "Grow a pair...here's the phone, moron." But, I guess it's a good story to tell the wife. "Honest Hon, I'm gonna have a chaperone when I break up with her." Apparently Jenny Sanford didn't fall for "Farewell 2: Brazilian Soulmate". You know, fool me once and all that.
I’m not sure about a “spiritual adviser” but I have heard of breaking it off in person with a witness there, sometimes even the spouse. In his case, the thought may have been to do it in a way where she was shown “respect” (okay, don’t puke, stay with me) so as not to make her feel slighted and cause him damage professionally or hurt his family in a public way in the future. Still, it’s really all about him and trying to protect him.