Jesuit university cancels production of V-Monologues

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Manassas, Va., Mar 6, 2009 / 01:59 am (CNA).- Joining the trend of colleges steering clear of the “lewd” activist feminist play, Fr. Michael Engh, SJ, president of the Jesuit college Santa Clara University, has canceled a production of the Vagina Monologues.

The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS), which has campaigned against allowing the performances, has reported that 15 Catholic college campuses are hosting productions of the play in 2009, down from a peak of 32 in 2003.

According to the CNS, the V-Monologues is a “sexually explicit and offensive play” that favorably describes same-sex immorality and group self-abuse. It also describes the lesbian seduction and rape of a teenage girl as a “salvation.”

The play is often performed with the stated aim of raising awareness about violence against women and girls, a purpose the CNS argues is thwarted by the play’s “pornographic and demeaning content.”

CNS President Patrick J. Reilly praised Fr. Engh’s decision, calling it “an encouraging sign toward renewal.”

“He deserves the thanks and gratitude of the Catholic faithful who have been praying for an end to the Monologues on Catholic campuses for the past seven years,” Reilly said in a Thursday statement.

The final list of Catholic colleges and universities which have hosted or have been scheduled to host the play is available at the CNS web site.

Schools still hosting V-Monologues performances include Boston College, DePaul University, Fordham University, Georgetown University, Loyola University Chicago, Seattle University and the University of San Francisco.

Comments: 10

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Luis
Tucson, Arizona, USA 03/11/2009 11:45 AM EST

JMJ

Thank you, dear Lord, to remind us that there are still some Jesuits with common sense, which is, not to mention knowledge of the Magisterium.

Thank you, Father Engh.

Published by: Michael
DC 03/09/2009 08:22 AM EST

DePaul is not Jesuit. The "DePaul" part, as in "St. Vicent DePaul", should have given that away.

But yes, the others all are. 6 out of 28 is better than it used to be. Maybe next year, it can drop to 5.

Published by: Cecilia
Orion, MI USA 03/08/2009 11:27 PM EST

During the Jesuit UD-Mercy's Winter 2008 semester, I asked staff members of the UDM drama department why UDM was putting on the production "The Vagina Monologues." One of the professors in charge of the production, upon hearing my question, popped out of her office PRONTO and rather defensively claimed that "The Vagina Monologues" was in keeping with the mission/vision of UDM. I responded that the mission/vision of UDM ought to be TO BE CATHOLIC. The following week, I was informed that I was no longer allowed to use a Drama department conference room to conduct my ESL classes with UDM students. Hmmmm... seems like there's an overabundance of persecution for speakers of truth on the UDM campus.

Published by: waldo campos
New york,NY.USA 03/08/2009 05:58 AM EST

It is true, that inmoral sex is not the only sin. There are social sins....but as a catholic if I do not undertand the second comandament, which comands to love myself, which is the same thing as to say respect yourself,have dignity fierst; I can not expect to tell anyone else, how to live.If a woman is ready to put to dead a fruit of her womb for her own convenince... what can you expect from you and me ? If a so colled Catholic university, is redy to teach us,arrogance,contempt,hypocrisy...is'nt it time to change at least your name?

Published by: pat becker
londonderry,NH USA 03/07/2009 11:04 PM EST

Once upon a time a Catholic would be "proud" to be a graduate of a Jesuit college,or to send their child to such a "fine" Catholic school.this is no longer true in many Jesuit schools.
We thank God for those Jesuits schools,that have had a change of heart and returned to THE TRUTH
Thank you, Fr.Engh.

Published by: Raybo
Essex, Ct 03/07/2009 12:15 PM EST

I have directed Fordham University Law to delete me from their Alumni list. Raybo

Published by: Chris Roberts
Mercer Island, WA 03/06/2009 11:11 AM EST

All of these schools who still allow the play are ALL JESUIT! Is there something in the water they drink that makes Jesuits in this era a bunch of relativists and liberals who will not obey Catholic Social and Moral teaching.

A recent article posted that Seattle University's staff including Jesuits voted 99% for Obama. Did they not get the "Memo" on not voting for someone who holds intrinsically evil positions.

I hope they go out of business. I'm a graduate of SU and they have no desire to convert anyone to the faith or help kids stay Catholic. To them all religions get you to God.

Published by: Lionel
Silver Spring/MD/USA 03/06/2009 11:01 AM EST

Congratulations to Santa Clara University for having a president with principles and courage.

When I was at Fordham University in 2006, and the school pulled funding for the VM (though not forbidding their production on campus), there was an angry reaction to the "censorship" by the student-run campus newspaper.

Would that President McShane of Fordham should take this example.

Published by: David Cortens
San Clemente,CA,USA 03/06/2009 10:25 AM EST

Thank you Father Engh.

Published by: Alan Kmiecik
Brentwood, TN, USA 03/06/2009 06:53 AM EST

Thank you Fr. Michael Engh, for putting a little sanity into this insane time in which we live.

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