With prayers, banners and resolve, a group of twenty-one faithful Catholics gathered outside of Tegeler Hall at St. Louis University on Friday February 11, 2005 to protest the vulgar and immoral play “The V***** Monologues” which was presented as part of the national ‘V-Day’ celebrations at universities across America.
This “V-Day” college initiative is one in which students and employees at colleges and universities worldwide present performances of the Monologues on or around Saint Valentine’s Day (February 14), now renamed V-Day. According to the Cardinal Newman Society’s website (www.cardinalnewmansociety.org), the play contains vulgarity, obscenity and explicit discussions of sexuality and sexual encounters including lesbian activity.
Standing beneath a simple banner that read “Boycott V Monologues” supporters and friends of the American TFP, prayed the Rosary and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a peaceful protest in reparation for the offensive play that was presented to students inside the auditorium at Tegeler Hall. Enduring occasional shouts of obscenities and vulgar words, these concerned Catholics sent a loud and clear message to the administration of St. Louis University that vulgarity is not acceptable as Catholic or higher education.
Passing vehicle traffic was noticeably supportive to the protesters with many waves, thumbs up signs and honks of encouragement. Some passing cars rolled down their windows and requested free protest post cards, and one distinguished looking couple passed by the protest twice, then parked and approached the protesters asking for literature. They enthusiastically took post cards addressed to the university president asking him to cancel the play.
One young lady approached protester David Kemna and objected to his sign condemning homosexuality. When Mr. Kemna informed her that his sign was simply a direct quote of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, her startled response was “I’m a student here, and I’ve never heard that!” She said that while she had heard of the play she was unaware of how vulgar and immoral it was. Before leaving, she offered her support to the protest and said that she was in full agreement.
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Several female students approached male protesters and futilely attempted to intimidate them into leaving. Not surprisingly they completely avoided the women who were present. It is interesting to see how evil hides from even the faintest glimmer of light, especially since the clarion call of V-Days is a celebration of women, yet the mere fact that concerned women would stand in public witness against the play was too much for them to face.
The local Fox TV News affiliate, and The University News, the St. Louis University newspaper, heavily covered the protest. The spokesperson for the play gave a vague explanation of how this play supports women who are abused rather than address the blatant immorality and encouragement of homosexual lifestyles, and the violence against true femininity that this play portrays.
The protest also counted on heavenly intercessors. Bringing relics of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Saint Maria Goretti and Saint Bernadette, the protesters also asked the intercession to Our Lady of Lourdes, Saint Isaac Jogues, Saint Rene Goupil, Saint Jean de Brebeuf and Saint Agatha. After leaving the university, they made the short drive over to Saint Agatha’s Catholic Church to continue their prayers of reparation by assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and making the Stations of the Cross. Finally the night concluded with a blessing by a relic of the True Cross and veneration.
Several protesters returned on Saturday and Sunday to be a visible witness against this despicable play, which in itself promotes violence against women and families.