We had such high hopes when Rev. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of Notre Dame a Catholic University banned performances of The V Monologues, except in the context of a class (or some such nonsense). We thought he was simply phasing it out slowly.
The wealthy alumnae must have had their way.
Unfortunately in his letter which can be seen here- he has decided to permit the Play in the future without any restrictions on it.
The pertinent paragraph is here:
Thanks to the efforts of some faculty members, this year's performance of The Vagina Monologues was brought into dialogue with Catholic tradition through panels which followed each performance. Panelists presented the Catholic teaching on human sexuality, and students and faculty engaged one another and these issues in serious and informed discussion. These panels taught me and perhaps taught others that the creative contextualization of a play like The Vagina Monologues can bring certain perspectives on important issues into a constructive and fruitful dialogue with the Catholic tradition. This is a good model for the future. Accordingly, I see no reason to prohibit performances of The Vagina Monologues on campus, and do not intend to do so in the future.
6 comments:
YIKES! Ecumenism gone wrong once again- let the pagans, heretics, blasphemers, sinners,
haters etc have their say THEN we will have our say. It is like planting weeds in the field and hoping the wheat comes up with the weeds and if we leave it alone the wheat will choke the weeds!! Inverse, converse, reverse and perverse thinking. Maybe Fr. McBrien is not the only "Jesuit" at Notre Dame of the Sorrows. I thought that idolatry, fornication, shameful and lude behavior and the like should NOT EVEN BE MENTIONED among us.
Woops...I forgot...we aren't the Bible reading Christians...
Maybe they can host a satanic mass, next; or an abortion performed at the on-campus clinic. I'm sure they can put that into some sort of "creative contextualization." This is the exact problem with the whole 70's hippie theology of "dialogue." We no longer fight evil, we talk to it. I'm disgusted.
Madeline has some good ideas there! How about "The Mutilated Fetus Monolouges." Sick, sick people.
Thanks, WRN.
I just got around to reading Rev. Jenkins' letter. The most revealing paragraphs are as follows:
"I am also determined that we never suppress or neglect the Gospel that inspired this university. As long as the Gospel message and the Catholic intellectual tradition are appropriately represented, we can welcome any serious debate on any thoughtful position here at Notre Dame.
The only exception I can imagine would come in the case of expression that is overt and insistent in its contempt for the VALUES AND SENSIBILITIES OF THIS UNIVERSITY, or of any of the DIVERSE GROUPS that form part of our community. This sort of expression is not at issue in the current debate, nor do I expect it to be an issue in the future."
Does RJ mean that they WOULD suppress the Gospel if it expressed contempt for the values and sensibilities of the University (oh, and let's not forget it's diverse groups)? Wow. That certainly is a strong stance for ... well, for... I guess for the "values and sensibilities of the University," AND its ever important "diverse groups." It certainly isn't a stance against an overt and insistent contempt for the Gospel.
At least it is become crystal clear where not send your children to college.
The Bishop recently sacked the pro-gay marriage priest at Fitchburg State College ... this state campus is more amenable to Catholic students than Notre Dame.
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