Parish Picnic - Nun Parody

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Each year our Parish Picnic has a comedy skit / singing involving women and some men dressing up as nuns in the older traditional style habits , etc…

Before the play/skit they usually make an appearance around the picnic grounds and are sure to visit the beer garden to get some early laughs.

Anyway…here is my point…I am all for fun and laughs but for some reason it seems strange to do this…seems to be in bad taste…It sort of reminds me of people that dress up as a pregnant nun at Halloween…

I am sure many will say I just need to lighten up and have some fun…I think the part that bothers me the most is not the skit itself but the standing around prior with beer cans in their hands…it seems to disrespect the vocation of a nun and I wonder what people that attend that are not Catholic think when it seems we are making fun of our own religious vocations.

Thoughts?
 
That does not seem reverent or respectful of religious vocations. I would speak to my pastor about it.
 
Actually, it wouldn’t bother me at all. After all, nuns do drink alcohol too.
 
It is in bad taste. Where do you get the idea that nuns imbibe? Could have fooled me.
 
It’s a parody and no one is suggesting (presumably) that actual nuns would behave like this. I do agree it’s kind of in bad taste but it’s human nature to make fun of things and I don’t think actual disrespect is intended. I think you can poke fun at something and still take it extremely seriously. In fact (this is just a personal feeling of course), I think being able to do that is a sign of confidence and faith.

Anyway for what it’s worth, while I could in absolutely no way at all speak for every nun and religious in the world, I do have reasonable confidence that those I met when staying in a convent last summer would find it hilarious (in their own restrained way)…
 
I think what makes it funny is that nuns are so different and would not do the outlandish things in the script.
 
The whole thing about nun stereotypes and parodies is getting awfully old. As the good sisters age and become increasingly in need of our help, continuing to parody them this way becomes in increasingly bad taste, especially in a parish setting. Time to let it go.
 
I’ve seen it too much too.

Problem for me is that it’s the same “humor” like Sister Act (too old), like Monty Python (to obviously mocking) or like what atheist/secular people do when they run out of ideas for real fun.
It’s made worse by the fact that the people in your post drink (too) much and are active in the parish, meaning they are aware of what nuns really are: People who sacrifice their life and earthly goods to serve God and all of us.

Quoting or imitating a nun that is dear to you, is different: You can highlight specific qualities, and even make sure more audience hears of the holy life or catches inspirational words.

Parody of holy things and associating them with unholy acts (like drinking too much) feels like sacrilege - at least in my taste / opinion…
 
Definitely in poor taste to make fun of our holy women who have consecrated themselves as a bride of Christ, forsaking everything to follow him in prayer and good works. I am really tired of defending the honor of women who work tirelessly for the Lord, serving in education, hospitals and caring for the unwanted deserves our utmost respect. We want to make fun and take potshots at those who lead holy lives? Why not poke fun at those who lead lives of sin instead? Or, would that be politically incorrect?🤷
 
The fact that’s an annual skit???

YIKES. That’s disturbing.
How this been allowed to go on? I would have thought that people with religious in their families would have been offended the first time!
Wow.
So many other fun things to do…
Yeah. Speak to the Pastor. Ask him if the Vocations Director at the Chancery would think it boosted vocations or made them seem like a good option for a young person to consider. 👍
Somebody’s asleep at the wheel.
 
Poor taste. And outdated. These guys must be in their late 60s. I thought the goofy cross-dressing went out with Milton Berle.

I’m 48 and guys my age would be more like, “Meh. BTDT.”
 
Mary_Estelle said:
Where do you get the idea that nuns imbibe? Could have fooled me.
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My aunt and I made a few trips to the convent where her sister, a retired Franciscan nun for 59 years before her passing, lived with other retired and infirm sisters. We did have Irish coffee and Bailey’s on St. Patty’s Day and wine on St. Joseph’s feast during supper. Nothing to excess, though, and nothing outside of special occasions. One Irish coffee or shot of Bailey’s and a single glass of wine. :nun2: My aunt could not drink at all because of the meds she was taking. I had a wonderful time every time we went, about five times total.

I do agree that’s in very poor taste. I wouldn’t even consider putting on a nun’s costume, or any other similar religious garb. That habit has to be earned and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
 
Murmurs said:
It’s a parody and no one is suggesting (presumably) that actual nuns would behave like this. I do agree it’s kind of in bad taste but it’s human nature to make fun of things and I don’t think actual disrespect is intended. I think you can poke fun at something and still take it extremely seriously. In fact (this is just a personal feeling of course), I think being able to do that is a sign of confidence and faith.

Anyway for what it’s worth, while I could in absolutely no way at all speak for every nun and religious in the world, I do have reasonable confidence that those I met when staying in a convent last summer would find it hilarious (in their own restrained way)…
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Well, I wonder what little girl would want to consider a religious vocation after seeing religious sisters made fun of for the first 18 years of her life at the annual picnic including men dressing in drag, beer in hand acting ridiculous, and her parents laughing and approving such ridicule.
 
1ke said:
Well, I wonder what little girl would want to consider a religious vocation after seeing religious sisters made fun of for the first 18 years of her life at the annual picnic including men dressing in drag, beer in hand acting ridiculous, and her parents laughing and approving such ridicule.
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That’s a very good point and I have to say one I didn’t initially consider. (I’m not saying I approve of it anyway, just that my initial reaction was not to disapprove).

Sadly, I think if events like this picnic “entertainment” were the biggest obstacles towards encouraging women (and men!) towards a religious vocation, it would be a cause for celebration. (I mean, there are bigger reasons why there is a vocations shortage I think, than making fun of people…but I wholeheartedly agree with you and it definitely further tempers my original feelings about the case!)
 
I guess, for me, it would have to depend on what the “nuns” were saying. I think there is a way to parody without being disrespectful and it really depends on the context. I think back to the whole “Late Nite Catechism” show that ran for years and I feel that it was done respectfully, despite the fact that the actress was dressed as a sister. The OP was the one who saw the performance and if he felt it was not tasteful, he might bring it up to the pastor. The pastor can’t know that people are uncomfortable with it unless someone says something.
 
1ke hit the nail on the head with this one.

I don’t think something like this is appropriate for a parish picnic.
Especially with guys dressing up as nuns and people

I’ve seen one half decent nun parody that was done in good taste.

My mother taught ballet at a local dance studio and one year the theme for the show was broadway.

Every year they had a ladies tap class and they always tried to do a routine that was light and fun.

They did a cute piece from Godspell (“All for the best”) and they only wore the habits for the first part of the piece.
When they lost the habits they only had black t-shirts with black leggings underneath.
Looking back, it was as tasteful as you could imagine.
They depict themselves as good Catholic nuns who happened to be fabulous tap dancers…😃
 
I just re re-read the majority of this thread. I was, at first under the impression that the nuns themselves put on this parody. My thoughts at the time,were to allow them to do this if they wanted; if it was their way of laughing at themselves, and entertaining the people of the parish, why not? ( Although, on second thought, it would have been prudent to advise parents that it might not be suitable for kids, and let them decide accordingly.)

When I came to the part about them visiting the beer garden, I was a bit shocked, and a few posts later, decided to re-read the thread. On reading the full description, it does sound like it’s in questionable taste, at best. Definitely speak to the pastor before the next scheduled event that may include this routine. Not the worst possible idea,mind you, but one which may give a bad impression concerning nuns, and religious life in general.
 
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