Catholicism the Target

The fact that Steven Linan found “Sister Mary Explains It All” “satisfying” says a lot about our culture’s willingness to tolerate anti-Catholicism (“ ‘Sister Mary’ Gets Your Attention,” May 26). The play on which the Showtime film is based has been called “the most virulently anti-Catholic play in American theater” (Dallas Morning News review, 1998) and a play that “goes after the Catholic Church with a vengeance” (Frank Rich, New York Times, 1981).

One wonders whether a movie that attacked another faith would have ever seen the light of day on Showtime or anywhere else. Yet since Catholicism is the target, it’s not only accepted, it’s enjoyed by some reviewers.

PATRICK SCULLY

Director of Communications,

Catholic League for Religious

and Civil Rights, New York