By Gudrun Schultz
MANASSAS, VIRGINIA, United States, February 1, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Five Catholic universities have stated they will not permit the Vagina Monologues to be presented on campus, and four more say the play won’t appear, after a campaign by the Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) to stop performances of the offensive production on Catholic campuses.
The Monologues is an obscene, sometimes pornographic “celebration” of women’s sexuality that focuses on lesbian sexual experiences and masturbation. The play encourages the use of vulgar and explicit sexual language, and glorifies the lesbian seduction of a young girl.
The CNS contacted 29 Catholic colleges this year to encourage the cancellation of planned performances in February and March 2006. The Society’s campaign has seen increasing success, with declining numbers of annual performances at Catholic colleges and universities. Last year, the play was performed at 27 Catholic schools, down from 29 in 2004 and 32 in 2003.
V-Day, an organization started by the play’s author, radical feminist Eve Ensler, to promote the Monologues, has acknowledged the success of the CNS’s efforts by posting a rebuttal on their website.
Universities that will not allow performances on campus include the Catholic University of America, Marquette University, New York Medical College, Providence College and Seton Hall University.
Assumption College, Carlow University, Sacred Heart University and Saint Xavier University have said the play will not appear, but have not officially banned the performance.