Thousands of students and concerned parents are calling for the cancellation of a blasphemous play at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. The offensive production Corpus Christi by Terrence McNally portrays Christ and the twelve Apostles as homosexuals.
The lewd production was recently canceled at Tarleton State University in Texas due to peaceful protest. And now Gallaudet University is facing a similar protest for its decision to host the play on April 8-10.
Among those calling for the cancellation of the play is a Catholic group called The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property -- TFP. Its student members launched an online petition last week inviting people to send protest emails to the university. Thousands have already done so at www.tfpstudentaction.org.
"Blasphemy does not qualify as free speech," said TFP Student Action director John Ritchie. "Just as everyone is entitled to their own good reputation, Gallaudet University has no right to harm and slander the spotless reputation of the God-Man with blasphemy, then run to academic freedom for cover."
"Does Gallaudet University want to stamp out the sacred reputation of Our Lord Jesus Christ and replace it with scorn, mockery and blasphemy?" asked Ritchie. "When it comes to Our Lord, I find nothing but Christophobia here."
"In fact, federal funds comprise 70% of Gallaudet's revenue. And it just adds insult to injury when those federal tax dollars are being used to promote blasphemy. That's simply unacceptable," he said. "Our peaceful message to Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, president of Gallaudet University, is simple: cancel the play."
When the play staged in Cincinnati in 2003, Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk stated: "Corpus Christi seems to go out of its way to present Jesus and His story in the crudest and ugliest of ways." He further added, "I believe that this play will offend the sensibilities of most people who reverence the Lord Jesus in any way."
