(Bishop's statement on) The decision to allow performances of Vagina Monologues at Notre Dame

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This is a correct and balanced view. The Catholic Church does not begin from scratch but holds a deposit of faith. Plays such as the Vagina Monologues are not a good. The goal is to shock and to quietly affirm what is contained in it. Things that are not in agreement with Church teaching. Many universities were founded by religious groups with the intent of maintaining their religious character and principles into the future. Pope John Paul II is to be admired for his direct comments about the fringe, the margin of what is human.

God bless,
Ed
 
My question is why the Bishops don’t discipline Michael Jenkins? If he is ignoring the pastoral council and the conclusion reached, isn’t he being disobedient to the teachings of the Church? Why not remove this man?
 
sheila0405 said:
My question is why the Bishops don’t discipline Michael Jenkins? If he is ignoring the pastoral council and the conclusion reached, isn’t he being disobedient to the teachings of the Church? Why not remove this man?
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It could be a jurisdictional matter that prevents the good bishop from stopping him.
 
johnstown_johnn said:
It could be a jurisdictional matter that prevents the good bishop from stopping him.
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The University of Notre Dame is independent from the Diocese of South Bend…although the Bishop has some jurisdiction over theology departments at any universities in his diocese.

My biggest question would be whether or not the bishop has seen the play that he has taken such umbrage with.

If not, it could be reminiscent of the whole Brokeback Mountain debate when people said it provided a “favorable” view of homosexual relationships, when in reality by the end of the movie one of the character’s was dead and the other one a shell of his former self.
 
The university does not support it, but they can’t really disallow or stop groups/clubs from doing it on their own. That’s how it is at my Catholic University. I think. I know the college doesn’t support it, and it’s not on stage where the theatre productions are. They put it on in a conference room.

ETA, of course I’d prefer if the college was able to just forbid it.
 
edwest2 said:
The contents of the play are well known. Here is more info:

lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08021205.html

God bless,
Ed
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I just think there’s a difference in reading a play and seeing a play…

You have to see ‘art’ in the context it was meant to be seen in to judge it.

I’m not saying the Bishop is wrong in his judgment, nor do I think his mind would be changed by a viewing of it…

BUT - I do think the prudent thing to do when one is going to disown something so vehemently would be to view it.
 
Fidelia said:
The university does not support it, but they can’t really disallow or stop groups/clubs from doing it on their own. That’s how it is at my Catholic University. I think. I know the college doesn’t support it, and it’s not on stage where the theatre productions are. They put it on in a conference room.

ETA, of course I’d prefer if the college was able to just forbid it.
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The University “can” disallow anything that a group or club wants to do if the group or club is university sanctioned and/or will be using university facilities. It may choose not to disallow it but it is certainly able to do so, litterally and jurisdicturally.

At your University, if the conference room is in a university building, the adminstration controls its use. They have just restricted the play somewhat by saying it has to take place in a conference room and not on a stage.
 
SLU required art students to see the play. They had to turn their ticket in to the teacher to pass their class. Discussion that disagreed with the play was rejected in class and in the students’ essays.

As for those who think that it is logical to allow material such as this into Catholic colleges for “learning” or whatever…I certainly don’t see other forms of art being allowed.
 
This filth has no business on any University campus, much less a Catholic University named for Our Lady. Has anyone else besides me grasped the sad irony there?

The bishop is to be commended. Michael Jenkins should be ashamed.

If I were an Alum of Notre Dame I would be sending a letter to the President of the University and withholding financial support for the University.

As far as needing to see it before condemning it, I don’t go to the “gentlemens” clubs in town, but I know that what goes on in there is not moral or in conformance with Church teaching. I do not have to polute my mind or soul in order to discern that certain things are wrong and contrary to Church teaching.
 
Fr. John Jenkins was the featured speaker at my Catholic high school’s big yearly lecture series, mainly designed to impress all the rich people who give millions of dollars to the school each year. His talk was relatively general and didn’t really come close to discussion of what sort of art forms a Catholic university has an obligation to denounce or ban, though his talk was about what makes a great Catholic educational institution.

When the floor was opened to questions, I was sorely tempted to ask him why he would allow a play which glorifies statutory rape not only to be performed on his university’s campus, but to be endorsed and sponsored by several of the schools departments. I think if I had, my dean of students would have flayed me alive. Perhaps if I were a little cleverer, I could have planned out a much more tactful way of asking him how he arrived at his decision. Ah well,

God bless.
 
One does not have to witness evil to know it is evil.:rolleyes: That is part of what enlightenment, intuition and gut instinct are about. This is Catholic institution, if this is such a benign event and so popular, let them schedule the play somewhere else in South Bend and let the whole city support it.
 
I the irony of the vagina monologues is that many Feminist actually HATE it. the play was written as some sort of “empowerment” for women. But many feminist critics find it offensive in the fact that it simplifies women down to their genitalia. It’s blatant objectification in the title.

I remembe just when the VM play got popular at Wolf Trap, DC had the first performance of what was called “Puppetry of the Penis”. I kid you not. It was kinda like the male version of the Vagina Monologues It was a bunch of naked guys behind a large white sheet telling stories with their penises via shadow puppets. I guess they were going for edgy, to me it just seemed LAME! Who wants to watch a bunch of men playing with themselves?🤷
 
brockmac said:
As far as needing to see it before condemning it, I don’t go to the “gentlemens” clubs in town, but I know that what goes on in there is not moral or in conformance with Church teaching. I do not have to polute my mind or soul in order to discern that certain things are wrong and contrary to Church teaching.
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Or as I like to say, I don’t have to actually eat used kitty litter to know that I should not do it.
 
Phallic symbolism penetrates many facets of our lives. Take for example the rank insignia within our own US Army. The erect chevron represents a penis while the inverted chevron represents a vagina. A combination of these chevrons creates the rankings for enlisted army soldiers. The more rank a soldier has, the more erect chevrons. So, in fact, our soldiers are walking around with symbols of penises and vaginas on their shoulders with the highest rank having the most penises or erect chevrons.

Why are you wasting my time and your time even discussing the Vagnina Monologues? I spend over 30 hours a month volunteering for an organization that cares for profoundly disabled children. This is my way of providing an alternative to mothers who might choose not to abort a child with disabilities. I am appalled at your disgusting waste of time when their are bigger issues that need immediate attention. You are lazy, mindless catholics. Get a life.
 
moonpuck said:
Phallic symbolism penetrates many facets of our lives. Take for example the rank insignia within our own US Army. The erect chevron represents a penis while the inverted chevron represents a vagina. A combination of these chevrons creates the rankings for enlisted army soldiers. The more rank a soldier has, the more erect chevrons. So, in fact, our soldiers are walking around with symbols of penises and vaginas on their shoulders with the highest rank having the most penises or erect chevrons.

Why are you wasting my time and your time even discussing the Vagnina Monologues? I spend over 30 hours a month volunteering for an organization that cares for profoundly disabled children. This is my way of providing an alternative to mothers who might choose not to abort a child with disabilities. I am appalled at your disgusting waste of time when their are bigger issues that need immediate attention. You are lazy, mindless catholics. Get a life.
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WOW! Just how tall IS that horse?
 
(responding to advice that you should see the play before you comment on it):
Scottgun said:
Or as I like to say, I don’t have to actually eat used kitty litter to know that I should not do it.
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:clapping: Well said!!
 
I just pray that Our Lady (Notre Dame in French) will intercede to her Son that He may act to cease this degredation of women on a campus named in her honor and that all those who sanctioned this will come to repentance.
 
brockmac said:
I just pray that Our Lady (Notre Dame in French) will intercede to her Son that He may act to cease this degredation of women on a campus named in her honor and that all those who sanctioned this will come to repentance.
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Amen.:signofcross:
 
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