Posted on 02/26/2002 3:54:43 AM PST by Diago
Our Lady Weeps: V-Monologues Comes to Notre Dame
by Bud Macfarlane
DURING LENT
This Lent the pro-lesbian, verbally pornographic play, the V-Monologues is being staged at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend. The "V" stands for a woman's genitalia, and is spelled fully out in the promotional materials. It is being staged with the full blessings of the university's administration, which has done nothing to discourage its showing. Students are acting in the play, and it is sponsored by the school's Department of Film, Television, and Theater. Proceeds from the Monologues will apparently be donated to various feminist groups, none of which share much in common with the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
THE "C" WORD
Not only have I read transcripts from the play, but I've also seen it, as distasteful as it was, so I could write about it without detractors claiming I'm condemning something based on second-hand accounts. I do not recommend anyone, Catholic or otherwise, see this blatant piece of propaganda. Perverse acts, including the pedophilic seduction of a 13 year-old-girl by an older woman, are graphically described. Lesbianism and masturbation are glorified. To give you an inkling of the crudity of this "play," think of the worst four-letter word you know that begins with "c." A couple of years ago, when this trash was staged at Saint Mary's, a Catholic woman's college across the street from Notre Dame, the "chorus" began chanting this "c" word enthusiastically. You get the idea. Art, it is not. If you're skeptical, and not sensitive to utterly foul language and perverse subject matter, you can read an article on the Saint Mary's production here:
http://www.culturewars.com/CultureWars/2000/April/stmarys.html
NOTRE DAME GRAD
I'm a graduate of Notre Dame, as is my wife. Sadly, we are not surprised by this propaganda being featured at Notre Dame. Those who occupy the seats of power at Notre Dame have always taken pride in being the vanguard of Catholic dissent. Before Vatican II, Notre Dame sponsored a series of clandestine seminars with the Rockefeller Foundation in the early 1960s explicitly aimed at undermining the Church's teaching on artificial birth control (as documented by E. Michael Jones, editor of Culture Wars Magazine). Notre Dame administrators have long hid their vile intentions behind a curtain of "academic freedom," while presenting to the world-- and especially to parents of students--a face of benign, feel-good Catholicism. For example, the president of Notre Dame is Father Edward "Monk" Malloy, CSC. I remember a conversation I had with Father Malloy when I was an undergrad before he became president; he told me that the Church needed to change its position on "alternative forms of orgasmic behavior." We were standing in a men's room next to a urinal, which seemed appropriate at the time. I doubt Father Malloy features his views on "alternative forms of orgasmic behavior" in Notre Dame's promotional literature. I also remember corresponding with President Malloy as he defended Notre Dame's showing of the blasphemous movie "The Last Temptation of Christ" in the late 1980s. Again, he washed his hands with the filthy water of "academic freedom," as if falsehood could be a legitimate "point of view."
THE REALITY OF HELL
Out of love, I told Father Malloy in my letters then, and I'm telling him now, that unless he and those in the administration who support him repent of their sins, they shall surely face the eternal fires of hell. It's about time somebody said this out loud. There is a hell, and there are enemies of Christ, and these enemies do go to hell when they die if they do not repent. I sadly imagine that there are special torments in hell for those who wear Roman collars and carry bishop's mitres who actively promote or superciliously permit those in their care to exposure to perversions such as the V-Monologues. For decades now, the University of Notre Dame and other Catholic institutions of "higher" learning have jeopardized the souls of students that come under their influence, and they do so by design, willfully, and with a certain patronizing smarminess that makes decent folk feel the presence of evil. I fear my words are wasted: loving warnings about reality of damnation to those who evidently don't believe in eternal justice often fall upon deaf ears.
I LOVE NOTRE DAME
I have kept in touch with Notre Dame students over the years. I assure you that the devout Catholic counter-revolution is underway. There are many more students who are faithful to the Church there now than when I was a student in the early 1980s, despite the agitprop of those in charge of the institution, and these students are not remaining silent about the V-Monologues coming to our beloved Alma Mater. Their protests and prayer vigils will surely be ignored and unheard by those in positions of power, but these saints will be heard in heaven by Jesus. God bless them! And there are and have always been faculty members who are faithful to the Church, some of whom have been heroic in their public and private support of these students. I stand in solidarity with these true sons and daughters of Our Lady's university.
JUDAS IN A ROMAN COLLAR
Yes, Malloy and others like him are despicable in their hypocrisy. They call themselves Catholic while undermining the Mystical Body of Christ. Shame on them. Yes, these modern day Judases make me deeply ashamed that I am a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. Yet I love Notre Dame with all my heart, which makes my sadness and anger at seeing it dragged through the mud all the more heartrending. I'm sure many of my fellow alumni share my sorrow. I especially love Notre Dame's founder, Father Sorin, whose vision for a great Catholic University is being defiled intentionally by pretenders to his legacy. But these embarrassments are nothing compared to the spiritual reality of the situation: students are being taught how to go to hell at Notre Dame and other "Catholic" colleges and universities. Surely, Our Lady weeps bitterly.
HOPE
Mark my words, academic excellence does not mix with immorality, because immorality cannot bear the truth for long, and virtue in pursuit of the truth is the reason why institutions of higher learning exist. In other words, faith and reason are complimentary, and one cannot be virtuous and believe in falsehoods at the same time. It may be for now that Notre Dame is held in high regard by the world, and perhaps her graduates will be in better position to get high-paying jobs. But will they be in position to build up the Body of Christ? Will these graduates and their future spouses and children be in better position to merit heaven as a result of their "education"? Will they gain the world and lose their souls? It seems that these are questions that Father Malloy and his ilk no longer care about.
FOOTNOTE IN SALVATION HISTORY
In the long run, either those who are in charge of Notre Dame will repent of their sins and reform their institution, or this once faithful university will become a footnote in salvation history. Educational institutions faithful to the magisterial teachings of the Church such as Franciscan University of Steubenville (OH), Christendom College (VA), Thomas Aquinas College (CA), Our Lady of Corpus Christi College (TX), Ave Maria College and School of Law (MI), Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy (ONTARIO, CANADA), and Saint Thomas More College (NH) are prospering and growing. They are attracting the higher quality students who in years past longed to attend Notre Dame. (All these schools can be contacted by searching under "college" at http://www.bestcatholiclinks.com.) Contrary to popular belief, the institution does not make the student; the excellence of the student makes the institution. In short, God does not need Notre Dame; Notre Dame needs God. And if it doesn't reform, Catholics won't need Notre Dame either.
THE FUTURE
I have four sons under the age of ten. They're smart as whips. They, along with tens of thousands of Catholic home-schooled children are in grammar school and high school grades. All the studies show that these students are not only being raised in virtue and truth at great sacrifice by devout parents, but that they are scoring in the top percentiles of academic excellence. Some of these children will eventually attend Notre Dame, where, as with my wife and I and the devout students of today, they will form the beating heart of Immaculate Mary in an otherwise nominally Catholic campus. Most, however, will not be called by Our Lord to attend Notre Dame. The future leaders of the Catholic Church in the United States are graduating and will graduate from Ave Maria and Christendom and Steubenville, and even secular colleges which still value truth in various disciplines, but at least do not undermine the Church from within. Pride goeth before the fall, Notre Dame, and ye have fallen, and have further to fall, for the abyss is deep and eternal. Every night, every night, I pray for thee.
Your Loving Son,
Bud Macfarlane Jr., MI
Notre Dame Class of 1984
Despite my knowledge of ND's sorry state, I was still considering them for law school. Why do they have to make it even harder for me?
Unless geographical considerations are important, check out Gonzaga's Law School (Spokane, WA). The campus is little changed from when I was there over 25 years ago. The facilities have greatly improved, and the law school is highly rated, according to what I have read.
This letter was right on target, but this statement is a curious one. I can't imagine why devout Catholic parents would spend a fortune to have their child "educated" at a secular school like Notre Dame. For the price of an undergraduate degree at Notre Dame, you could pay for an undergraduate degree at most state schools plus 75% of an Ivy League graduate degree.
When I spent the four best years of my life there almost 30 years ago, I noticed one thing--when the sky turned the grayest, the Golden Dome shone the brightest. Those of us who love ND so strive through our comments and our contacts on campus to make ND the best it can be. That is why the "monologues" incident is so disturbing. We want ND to be the best, and the "monologues" detracts from that.
Among the best four years of my life was spent at that great Jesuit institution, Gonzaga University. During my 25th reunion last year, my wife fell in love with the place, and now she wants to send our kids there (hopefully on scholarship!). She could sense that I was 'back home', as I regaled her with the wonderful experiences, both academic and personal, that I enjoyed.
I wish you luck in your attempts to 'right the ship' at Notre Dame. Fortunately, the leadership at Gonzaga, led by Fr. Bob Spitzer, S.J. (GU President) has my alma mater headed on the right course.
Although ND may have greater visibility, I'll put the quality of Gonzaga's students and alumni up against ANY school in the nation.
You're going to have to do better than that! The Vagina Monologues are NOT playing on Gonzaga's campus!
I expected more class from an ND grad.
Clearly we're not going to find common ground here and I'm not going to respond in kind to your personal attacks.
All the best,
Dennis Moore
Learn about the Jesuit missions in Paraguay, the political structure of the Italian city states, the thought of Sir Thomas More, the writings of R.J. Rushdoony, the thought of Orestes Brownson, the monastical foundations of SS. Benedict and Columba, the legal theorists of the medieval Byzantine Empire, the Hanseatic and Schmalkaldic Leagues, the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the new German economy of Wilhelm Roepke, the social institutions of the Maryland colony, etc.
Religious thinkers, and religious thinkers practically alone, were the champions of liberty from the time of Samuel down to this day.
Socialism was an invention of godless men who rejected the concept of a perfect heavenly society and set out to create an earthly version. Who were the prominent socialists? Lenin, Trotsky, Mao, Stalin, Fourier, Bakunin, Kun, Pol Pot, Ho Chi Minh, Castro, Guevara, Marx, Engels, Luxemburg, Gramsci, Keynes, Hitler, Mussolini? Atheists all, not a believer among them.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY UNDER FIRE FOR BANNING PORNOGRAPHIC FEMINIST PLAYSPOKANE, Wash., March 1, 2002 (LSN.ca) - While various "Catholic" universities in the US have allowed the play, Gonzaga University, a Jesuit institution, has banned "The Vagina Monologues". Rev. Robert Spitzer, president of the university, explained his decision to ban the production from the university at a public debate this week.
Fr. Spitzer pointed out that one scene involved a lesbian sexual affair between a 16-year-old and an older woman, which was referred to as a "good rape." He noted that the scene was obviously contrary to the "Catholic and Christian view of marriage." Decisions on allowing certain speakers and productions on campus, "speaks volumes about who we are, what are mission is, what we believe," said Fr. Spitzer.
The play, written by Eve Ensler, consists of monologues delivered by several different women, including discussion of orgasms, pelvic exams, sexual abuse, sexual fantasies and childbirth. AP reports that it is being staged all over the country as a fund-raiser for "V-Day", a nonprofit organization that claims to want to stop violence against women.
See the AP coverage:
http://www.king5.com/localnews/NW_022702WABplaybanned.4e96289.html
http://www.tribnet.com/frame.asp?/news/religion/0227b213.html
If anyone would like to hear more from Fr. Spitzer, I strongly recommend his latest book, Healing the Culture. At our Reunion Weekend last year, Fr. Bob gave us a 1 1/2 hour lecture that summarized this book. It was awesome. Throughout this riveting lecture, this thought kept running through my head: Yes! This is my school! This is why I came to Gonzaga!
That weekend was my wife's first real exposure to Jesuit thinking, although she's a cradle Catholic. Within a span of 48 hours, her attitude changed from being a somewhat reluctant visitor to wanting our kids to follow in Dad's footsteps.
All I've got to do now is to figure out a way to pay for approximately $400,000 in tuition, books, lab fees, etc.! Piece of cake! I've got at least 3 more years before the first one heads off to college!
I sent my email to mr moore, let him know how I feel about his liberal attitude.
Feb. 13, 2002`The Vagina Monologues' violate Notre Dame
Sean Dudley freshman
A few years ago, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art displayed a painting of the Blessed Virgin with elephant dung thrown and smeared all over it. When the art museum received widespread criticism for showing such a tasteless and horrifically offensive piece, the museum spokesmen defended it in the name of "art."
"The Vagina Monologues" is very likely the most offensive play in modern theater. Describing in graphic detail women's most private body parts and encouraging females of all ages to get to know their vaginas by masturbating often and engaging in lesbian sexual encounters, this production flies like elephant dung in the face of all that the most chaste, most holy Virgin stands for at the top of the Golden Dome and in our hearts. That such a play should be allowed on Our Lady's campus makes me want to vomit, weep, scream and pull my hair out all at once. Why have we allowed — and even welcomed — this vile desecration of our school, our faith and Our Lady?
"Any theater is nonetheless the highest form of art," some might claim. Or, regarding any art form, "How can you censor true, heartfelt expression, no matter what the content?" Give me a break. The University buys into that? What if a student were to write and direct a play in which the actors have oral sex on stage in front of everyone in the audience? Or what if someone were to erect a new statue of Mary for the Grotto, except this time with elephant feces smeared all over it? Or what if someone were to take a bunch of pictures of vaginas and make an artsy collage to display at the Snite? Would you put it up? "The Vagina Monologues" is not art; it is desensitizing, morally repugnant trash.
How about the argument that this play should be allowed because it promotes greater understanding and appreciation of women? After all, it is being put on as part of the celebration of V-Day (Vagina Day) — a day to demonstrate against violence toward women. There are a few serious problems with this argument. One, the desensitization that occurs when such absolute immodesty is displayed and applauded can only decrease the modesty and reverence men should show all women. Rapes are proven to increase in frequency when men lose all respect for women and their bodies. Two, Vagina Day is proudly sponsored by and donates proceeds to Planned Parenthood, an organization that fights for the right to destroy innocent female life. If V-Day is about ending violence against women, what about the roughly 2,300 women killed every day by abortions in the U.S.? Three, the play itself applauds the molestation of a 13-year-old girl by a 24-year-old woman, justifying the violent sexual invasion because of its lesbian nature.
By allowing "The Vagina Monologues" to be performed at Notre Dame, we are throwing dung in the face of our Virgin Mother, supporting abortion and stripping modesty from everyone involved. (One scene has a chorus of actors repeatedly yelling in unison, "Cunt, cunt, cunt, cunt.") Most newspapers probably wouldn't allow that word to be printed. So why are we allowing it to be shouted from a stage in DeBartolo Hall?
In the name of our Virgin Mother, Notre Dame, I beg the administration to disallow the production of this foul play immediately. In G.K. Chesterton's book, "The Ball and the Cross," a Catholic Scotsman breaks a store window and challenges a blaspheming atheist to a mortal duel, all because the atheist wrote an article tying Mary to ancient pagan goddesses. "The Vagina Monologues" openly flips the bird at modesty, chastity and virginity, and in fact at all women who consider their private parts private. What is Notre Dame's administration willing to do to defend the honor of the Blessed Virgin and all her daughters? Roll over and die in the face of modernistic calls for "open-mindedness" and "academic freedom?" Or stand up and stop this travesty?
I urge all students to write letters to Provost Nathan Hatch calling for an immediate cessation of this production. I also invite everyone to join us as we pray the Rosary at 9 a.m. and at 5 p.m. every day outside Washington Hall, asking for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin to defeat this horrendous attack on modesty.
Sean Dudley
freshman
Carroll Hall
So alumni money should now go where? to Christendom College, Franciscan University of Steubenville, or Ave Maria University ... works for me.
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