With the recent comment by Mike Huckabee on asking whether Mormon’s believe that Satan is Jesus’ brother, Andrew Sullivan tries to explain how odd Catholic teachings are anyway.

As a Catholic, I am obliged to believe that the mother of Jesus was whooshed physically into the sky rather than dying.

Once again Mr. Sullivan shows his ignorance about the faith. The dogma of the Assumption is relates to the bodily Assumption into heaven of Mary. There has been no statement by the Magisterium as to whether Mary was alive when she was assumed or whether she died first. Eastern Catholic/Orthodox theology generally sides on her having died first and celebrate the Dormition (falling asleep) of Mary. Of course Mr. Sullivan is being facetious with the whole "whooshed physically into the sky" part.

Though I bet most faithful Catholic wouldn’t be embarrassed to have someone bring up the Assumption in contrast to the Satan is Jesus’ brother teaching in Mormonism.

Via anti-contraception news.

Much like Al Gore’s claim that he invented the internet, Hillary is taking credit for the reduction in teen pregnancy rates
between 1995 and 2005.

"To address this important issue, my husband issued a call to action in 1995 to America’s parents and leaders to join together to cut America’s teen pregnancy rate by one-third over a decade. In order to help achieve this ambitious goal, I helped launch the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, and we successfully achieved a one-third reduction by 2005"

Never mind that during this period, abstinence among teens was on the rise and state restrictions on abortions were given new strength by the Supreme Court’s 1992 *Planned Parenthood vs. Casey* decision. For example, a study by professor Michael New of the University of Alabama found that pro-life legislation, and not the influence of Bill or Hillary Clinton, resulted in significant reductions on the abortion rate among
minors.

And never mind that the partial birth abortion ban, which Hillary opposed and voted against, may have significantly changed public perception on abortion and its acceptability.

Yes, folks, Hillary Clinton wants us to believe that increased abstinence and pro-life legislation did not have an impact on teen pregnancy and abortion rates. And of course, she blames the recent rise in teen birth
rates on the Bush administration:

"But the report released today indicates that under President Bush’s leadership, we may be falling off track"

So let’s get this straight – Hillary caused teen pregnancy rates to drop by 1/3 over the span of a decade, George Bush is responsible for the recent rise in teen birth rates, Bill Clinton did not have sex with "that woman",
and Al Gore invented the internet. Given these facts, how could anybody doubt that putting Hillary in the Oval office will once and for all end teen pregnancy?

(CNSNews.com) – In a Dec. 1 op-ed in the Washington Post, First Lady Laura Bush said Americans need to “practice safe sex,” use condoms “every time,” and get tested for HIV/AIDS. Her spokeswoman repeated the message to Cybercast News Service this week. However, it is a message that is contrary to the Bush administration’s policy position on abstinence education as the best way to fight HIV/AIDS.

In her commentary, “Let’s Unite Against HIV-AIDS,”

Mrs. Bush wrote that Americans “should know our HIV status” and provided the Web site to find “the testing center closest to you.” She went on to write: “Practice Safe Sex. Let’s take a cue from our African counterparts and follow the ABC method of prevention: Abstinence, Be Faithful and the Correct and Consistent Use of Condoms. That means not just occasionally, but every time.”

To the First Lady’s message just say no. Though I would ask of her if you are abstinent or faithful why would you need to wear a condom every time? But I guess it is perfectly consistent within Church teaching for abstinent people to wear condoms. Heck anybody can wear a condom if they want – just not while having sex.

Now if I was going to write parody names for workshops I might create ones such as:

• Getting Beyond Dominating Hierarchy: Recovering an Authentic Vision of Teaching Authority in the Church …
• Getting Beyond the Church as an ‘Unequal Society’: Uncovering Vatican II’s Vision of the Church …
• Getting Beyond ‘Pay, Pray and Obey’: Reflections on the Vocation of the Laity.

Unfortunately those are real workshops that will be held in the Diocese of Rochester – the diocese that even makes Cardinal Mahony and his diocese look orthodox by comparison.

These workshops will be held by Dr. Richard R. Gaillardetz. The Bishop’s marriage site recommended one of his books last month. Though the book review has now been pulled. Since the USCCB also recently yanked the Golden Compass review I think it can be explained by "Nobody expects the Vanish Inquisition."

Rich Leonardi who posted on this originally also has a copy of the invitation for this workshop at his blog.