by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
(Feb. 13, 2008) Fewer Catholic campuses are willing to host an offensive play known as The Vagina Monologues, traditionally shown around Valentine’s Day, as protests by students, U.S. bishops and the faithful begin to make an impact.
According to the Cardinal Newman Society, which was founded in 1993 to help renew and strengthen the Catholic identity of America’s 224 Catholic colleges and universities, only 19 Catholic colleges will host the play in 2008 compared to a peak of 32 in 2003. This is due in part to a growing number of students who are voicing their displeasure at a play that features explicit discussions of sexual encounters, including lesbian activity.
“The play tramples purity, modesty and degrades women. It openly flaunts sins against nature, and thus subverts the order established by God,” said Tradition, Faith and Property (TFP) Student
Action director John Ritchie. “This scandalous play offends every good Catholic and has absolutely no place on Catholic campuses.”
Although the makers of the Eve Ensler play claim it is meant to raise awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence, one student who saw it called it “a horrible exhibit of vice, lust, and infidelity” that opposes everything the Church teaches from modesty and chastity to marriage and contraception.
The play drew protests from another group this year. U.S. bishops who were scheduled to meet
for a theological seminar at the University of Notre Dame this week decided to move the meeting off-campus in protest of University plans to host the play.
“Because of the likelihood of the presentation of the play ‘The Vagina Monologues’ at Notre Dame this year, the bishops made a collective decision to move the seminar off campus,” said the Most Rev. John M. D’Arcy, bishop of the diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, in a written statement.
Bishop D’Arcy complained about the Monologues before, calling them “offensive to women” and “antithetical to Catholic teaching.”
Last year, Notre Dame agreed to move the play offcampus, but sponsorship by the University’s Anthropology and Sociology Departments brought the event back on-campus.
“We understand that not all are in full agreement about the propriety of allowing performances of this play on a Catholic campus,” said Notre Dame spokesman, Dennis Brown, in a written statement. “Because of concerns about the play and its potential performance, we have worked collaboratively with the bishops to move the conference out of respect for everyone involved.”
Notre Dame president, Father John I. Jenkins, has refused public comment on the matter, but plenty of angry Catholics are expressing their displeasure.
“In the holy season of Lent and just weeks before the Holy Father visits the United States, these nominally Catholic colleges will shame themselves publicly in defiance of Catholic morals and basic civility,” said Patrick J. Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) in a press release.
CNS has been campaigning for seven years to rid American Catholic campuses of this offensive play. They have already sent a letter to each of the presidents of the 19 universities who insist on showing it this year urging them to reconsider, and CNS’ 20,000 members have been asked to do the same.
“The nominally Catholic colleges that host this vile play are increasingly marginalized,” Reilly said. “The progress is slow, but we’re winning the fight against the Monologues.”
For a list of the Catholic colleges and universities that will be showing the Monologues this year, visit www.cardinalnewmansociety.org
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