The Vagina Monologues

The Vagina Monologues
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
More than half of the twenty Catholic colleges hosting this vile play are Jesuit. As a graduate of a Jesuit College what are the Jesuits trying to prove? In recent statements Pope Benedict XVI has urged the Jesuits to fidelity and loyalty to the Church.
The Vagina Monologues is a sexually explicit and offensive play that favorably describes lesbian activity, group masturbation, and the reduction of sexuality to selfish pleasure. The performance makes a mockery of Catholic teachings on life, love and sexual ethics.
Two decades ago, Pope John Paul II issued Ex corde Ecclessia, and explicit directive for the renewal and reform in Catholic higher education. Pope Benedict continues the call.
That is why Pope Benedict summoned all 225 presidents of U.S. Catholic colleges to Washington, D.C. for a private address in April. This Jesuit behavior is like in your face. It is also an insult to all Catholics who contributed and built these colleges. I hope there are consequences.
“In the holy season of Lent and just weeks before the Holy Father visits the United States, these nominal 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)
“Most disturbing of all is the return of the monologues to the University of Notre Dame,” Reilly said. “In the absence of moral leadership, Notre Dame will again thumb its nose at Bishop D’Arcy, who has publicly condemned the play and chastised the university.
In the Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College. CNS refused to recommend Notre Dame, noting one professor’s chilling comment that ‘a kid who is struggling with his faith will sink like a stone.’ But Newman Guide editor Joseph Esposito expressed hope that Notre Dame would strengthen it Catholic identity.
CNS has contacted the president of each host college by mail, urging them to halt the play. CNS is calling on its more than 20,000 members and other Catholics like yourself to convey their concerns about the Monologues to college presidents. Here are several of them.
Loyola Marymount University University of San Francisco
Fr. Robert Lewton, S.J., President Fr. Stephen Privett, S.J., President
rlawtons@lmu.lmu privet@usfca.edu

Fordham University University of Notre Dame
F. Joseph McShane, S.J. President Father John Jenkins, C.S.C. Pres.
president@fordham.edu Jenkins.1@nd.edu

Saint Louis University University of Detroit Mercy
Fr. Lawrence Biondi, S.J. Pres. Fr. Gerard Stockausen, S.J. Pres.
biondi@slu.edu gstock@udmercy.edu

Loyola University New Orleans College of Holy Cross
Fr. Kevin Wildes, S.J. President Fr. Michael McFarland. S.J. Pres.
wildsk@loyno.edu mmcfaria@holycross.edu
George H. Kubeck