Posted on 04/06/2006 12:11:41 AM PDT by Antioch
Last January, I raised a challenge for Notre Dame: to consider how we can affirm the highest principles and practices of a university – ensuring the academic freedom to explore the full range of ideas and expressions produced by human thought and creativity - and, at the same time, to affirm our Catholic character and engage the Catholic intellectual tradition in a way that shapes and enriches the educational experience of our students.
The challenge is not to do just one of these – or even to do both of them in parallel – but to promote academic freedom and affirm our Catholic character in a way that integrates the two and elevates both. This university was founded on the conviction that these goals are not just compatible, but essential, beneficial, and mutually reinforcing.
We have had this discussion of lofty ideals largely in the context of a single play. But we have to make sure that this event, or any single event, does not take on any undue stature. It is not more important than the principles we are discussing; it is a test of how we apply them.
Over the past ten weeks, I have met, talked to, and heard from hundreds of men and women – faculty, students, and administrators; alumni and friends. I have met individually with department chairs and faculty; attended a forum put on by the College of Arts and Letters; and participated in meetings of the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, and the Graduate Student Council. I have read the e-mails sent to me, and I have carefully and faithfully read the news coverage and opinions in The Observer. I thank everyone who took the time to share their thoughts; I have been impressed by the passion, intelligence, and civility of this debate.
Some of the individuals I’ve talked with are adamantly opposed to the performance or expression on campus of a work, play, book, or speech that contradicts Catholic teaching. To them, we must say, with all respect: "This is a Catholic university." We are committed to a wide-open, unconstrained search for truth, and we are convinced that Catholic teaching has nothing to fear from engaging the wider culture.
Others I talked to were appalled that we would raise any question about the content, message, or implications of a work of art, drama, or literature here on campus. To them, we have to say, with the same respect: "This is a Catholic university." It is founded upon our belief that love of God and neighbor are eternal teachings that give context and meaning to our search for truth. As I said, Catholic teaching has nothing to fear from engaging the wider culture, but we all have something to fear if the wider culture never engages Catholic teaching. That is why the Catholic tradition must not only inspire our worship and our service on campus; it should help shape the intellectual life of the university. Our goal is not to limit discussion or inquiry, but to enrich it; it is not to insulate that faith tradition from criticism, but to foster constructive engagement with critics.
Like any university, we have a responsibility to foster intellectual engagement with various perspectives and forms of knowledge, but as a Catholic university, we have the added responsibility of fostering engagement among these perspectives and forms of knowledge with the Catholic intellectual tradition. As Pope John Paul II wrote, the Catholic university is "a primary and privileged place for a fruitful dialogue between the Gospel and culture" [Ex corde ecclesiae, 3.34].
Grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Catholic intellectual tradition develops through this dialogue with culture, as it encounters new questions and discoveries; as it speaks on emerging social questions; as it applies the truths of the Gospel to complex situations wrought by advances in science. How our ancient but evolving Catholic tradition expresses itself in the future depends to a large extent on the work of this and other Catholic universities. After all, a Catholic university is where the Church does its thinking, and that thinking, to be beneficial, must come from an intellectually rigorous engagement with the world.
For these reasons, I am very determined that we not suppress speech on this campus. 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.
These are the general principles that have emerged from the many discussions I have had with members of the Notre Dame family. I believe they are principles that a large majority of this community can embrace. It is now time to apply these principles to the matter at hand, and to make decisions regarding the performance of The Vagina Monologues on campus and other matters related to academic freedom and our Catholic character.
In the ten weeks since my faculty address, I have seen The Vagina Monologues performed by our students, and I have discussed the play with its performers and supporters. I still believe – as I said in my address to the faculty – that its portrayals of sexuality stand apart from, and indeed in opposition to, Catholic teaching on human sexuality. Of course, as I have described, there must be room in a university for expressions that do not accord with Catholic teaching, and that is true in the case of this play.
My concern with The Vagina Monologues was not simply with some of its content, but with the prominence given to it by annual performances over five years, accompanied by publicity and fundraising activities. It is essential that we hear a full range of views on campus, including views contrary to Catholic teaching. But because we are a Catholic university, we must strive to bring these various views into dialogue with the Catholic intellectual tradition. This demands balance among diverse views and the inclusion of the Catholic perspective. There are no sharp, easily drawn lines here, and achieving this balance requires discretion and judgment.
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.
"....I saw many laudable goals in the play: to help women develop a positive, accepting attitude toward their own bodies; to encourage them to see their sexuality as a gift to be cherished; to urge them to take pride in their identity as women; and – the most urgent goal – to inspire us to work with greater determination to eliminate violence against women. Notre Dame must do more to advance these goals. The student leaders of The Vagina Monologues have proposed producing a play written in their own voices and describing their own experiences, entitled Loyal Daughters. This production will be put on entirely by Notre Dame students in consultation with the faculty advisors they have chosen. I will do all I can to support this effort. In addition, I have formed an ad hoc committee composed of faculty, administrators, and students, charged with fostering a wide-ranging discussion of gender relations, roles, and ways to prevent violence against women. This committee, which I will chair, will help enrich our discussion of issues critical to the lives of women here at Notre Dame and beyond.
Too many "Catholic" "leaders" are ****ies! (fill in the blanks).
pathetic
It's too bad that Fr. Jenkins is such a wimp. The new president of Providence College, Fr. Brian Shanley, O.P., banned the "Monologues" from his campus this year and held firm to his decision in spite of the protest that was held by supporters of the play. By standing firm, Shanley won, by caving in Jenkins lost. It's that simple.
Very disappointing and demoralizing. If you want women to "develop a positive, accepting attitude toward their own bodies; to encourage them to see their sexuality as a gift to be cherished" have Christopher West or someone else give a talk on Theology of the Body.
If he wants "to urge them to take pride in their identity as women.." have Alice von Hildebrand or another give a talk on true femininity.
You can "engage the wider culture" without wallowing in its moral cesspool like a sow wallowing in the mud, Father.
Why not just encourage ND coeds to moonlight as actresses in porn films? After all, Catholic teaching has nothing to fear from engaging the wider culture.
My kids and my money will go to Ave Maria, Steubenville, or the University of Dallas, absolutely not to Notre Dame.
At least they have an excuse for being ... well ... you know ...
Evolving tradition - telling! Are pedophile Priests part of that evolution? Apparently the V Monologues are.
He wanted a Catholic College which operated in the finest intellectual traditions of the Church.
Looks like he made the right choice. Currently, he's working on a paper comparing and contrasting the interplay between Faith and Reason in the writings of Dante and the writings of Pope John Paul II. Certainly, a far more worthy enterprise than that engaged in by the students Fr. Jenkins is "mis"leading.
Interestingly, one of the primary themes the priests at Christendom are continually preaching is that Christendom students must gaurd against the sin of pride and humbly recognize the true free gift that is the intellectual heritage being bequethed to them at Christendom versus the sham education given to those who attend places like Notre Dame.
"Rome, Apr. 05 (CWNews.com) - Archbishop Angelo Comastri forcefully denounces the vices of a secularized modern society in the meditations that will be read during this year's Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at the Roman Coliseum.
"Lord, we have lost the sense of sin!" the Italian prelate remarks in his text, which was obtained by the I Media news agency in Rome. His meditations go on to condemn "an insidious propaganda" that leads toward "an idiotic apology for evil, an absurd cult of Satan, a mad desire for transgression, a false liberty, without conscience, that exalts caprice, vice, and selfishness."
A pity Fr. Jenkins couldn't find time to consult Archbishop Comastri. Perhaps if he had, then his apologia wouldn't sound, so, well, idiotic.
The only contact information I could find in a quick search was for the alumni association.
ND Alumni Association
100 Eck Center
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(574) 631-6000
Webmaster: alumweb@nd.edu
Anyone have the homepage -- main numbers for us to FReep?
Paging doctor Freud, paging doctor Freud, please pick up the white courtesy phone...
>> We are committed to a wide-open, unconstrained search for truth, and we are convinced that Catholic teaching has nothing to fear from engaging the wider culture. <<
And hence, we should all learn how to worship Baal, profane the temple, and sacrifice virgins.
... Personally, I'm expecting another 2-9 record this year in football... Don't even think of throwing any "Hail Mary" passes.
"Don't you mess with me, 'cause I'm a mother!"
Disgusting. If people want to see this piece of garbage, they can certainly do so off campus and in a setting that has no conncection with Notre Dame; there is NO EXCUSE for the university to be associated with this or approve of its production in any way.
Time to make Notre Dame fess up and remove any implication of official connections with the Catholic Church from their literature, advertising materials, etc.
They had a choice, and its obvious which side they have chosen.
>> Panelists presented the Catholic teaching on human sexuality <<
And what are the odds that these "panelists" would ever care to give a full explanation for the Catholic position on birth control?
Yeah, I thought as much...
Some observations at Amy Welborn's site:
The ad hoc committee Jenkins formed was salted with every uber-leftist feminist on campus and maybe one faithful student (one of the leaders of the Edith Stein project). One of the members is the head of the Gender Relations Center at ND, and she goes around to all the dorms telling students that they have a "heterosexual privilege." One of the professors on the committee consistently hosts undercover meetings by the unrecognized Gay Straight Alliance on campus. Almost all the professors on the committee give their full support to the Monologues production.
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