It's just not a good week for Catholics, it seems. Just after news that Catholics support torture more than other religious (or even secular) groups, we read that they also have more abortions. Now, I don't want to pick on Catholics (Hi Dad), but this is one of those issues that highlights the folly of pushing one's so-called morality on other people. The last big surprise was the sky-high divorce rate in the bible belt and the revelation that the more godless and liberal one was, the less likely one was to divorce. I wonder, does this mean that people with more freedom behave more responsdily, or does it mean the irresponsible desire to be controlled?

I have a feeling that polygmy is going to be the surprise issue this year. HBO's drama "Big Love," which features a quasi-Mormon family, is drawing all sorts of criticism fromn the LDS Church, which has been distancing itself from the issue for a very long time now. At the same time, polygamous families from a variety of backgrounds have been watching the gay marriage debate with some interest. There are also 'polyamorous' Pagan families, and no doubt that many would like to have the ability have their families recognized as well. Not only is it difficult to point to any real reason to dismiss polygamy (The "it's not biblical" argument used against gays could hardly fly here), but polygamy might be an ideal in today's society...maybe what every working couple needs is a stay-at-hom husband or wife. In any case, with polygamy and polyamory growing, we'll be seeing more of this issue.

More information on Polygamy and Polyamory:

Polygamy.com

The Polyamorous Pagan

The Polyamory Society

Mormons aren't the only religious group worried about their depiction on television; the theme of a new program on the CBS fall lineup, Orpheus, appears to be a thinly-disguised take on Scientology, with plotlines that involve a quasi religious group called "Grand Design," whose members adhere to a system outlined by an L Ron Hubbard-like figure.
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