Prince of Peace Pays 1st Amendment Price

Re “On Stage: a Drunken Christ; At Issue: Taxpayers’ Dollars,” July 17: Over the past few years I have read different articles on various productions of Terrence McNally’s controversial play, “Corpus Christi.” Each time, supporters of the play cite the 1st Amendment right of free speech and decry any attempts to prevent the use of federal funds to produce the play as the onset of Orwellian-style censorship. Critics of the play are characterized as right-wing fundamentalists who are overreacting.

In this “enlightened” era of tolerance we all live in, this is hypocrisy at its finest. Imagine if McNally wrote a play depicting Muhammad, Buddha or the Dalai Lama and their followers in this same characterization. Imagine if the faith being maligned was Islam, Judaism or Hinduism. I would bet that the same proponents of “Corpus Christi” would be denouncing it as insulting and inappropriate and would be some of the first people willing to protest at any theater that produced such a play.

Dave Avanzino

Fullerton

The article regarding the controversy over “Corpus Christi” being performed at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne leaves the reader with the impression that there are two sides to this issue: those who support the university and those who support the lawsuit against the school. The Catholic League, however, is opposed to both the play and the attempt to censor it.

From the beginning, the Catholic League has said that the university has every legal right to host the play. However, we have grave moral objections to “Corpus Christi.” That is why I asked the school’s chancellor, Michael Wartell, if it would be acceptable for me to write a statement that expresses our objections and have it distributed to theatergoers. He has agreed and has approved my statement. In return, I have condemned those who want to use the club of the law to beat down the school.

William A. Donohue PhD

President, Catholic League for

Religious and Civil Rights

New York City

The lawsuit to block the campus production of “Corpus Christi” is another futile attempt by the Christian right to force itself into the legitimate academic arena. What this lawsuit says is plain: The doctrine of Christianity is too fragile to be tested by parody or lampoon.

The theater has long been an incubator of ideas, a cherished colloquy of free-thinking people and a catalyst for social change. What this experience should be teaching those kids in the cast is the importance of challenging accepted doctrine. What it may teach them, if the Indiana legislators get their way, is that Christian doctrine can’t stand a little rain.

Paul Yeuell

Malibu