Appalled by Catholic college performances of the sexually explicit and offensive The Vagina Monologues, students and faculty at Catholic colleges and universities are producing alternative programs to responsibly address the serious issues of women's dignity and violence against women.

The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) is actively encouraging and supporting such programs while its more than 20,000 members continue to protest the so-far 24 scheduled productions of the Monologues scheduled on Catholic campuses in February and March. As respected Catholic leaders such as Bishop John D'Arcy have noted, the Monologues are "offensive to women" and "antithetical to Catholic teaching."

"Every spring colleges across the country raise funds for worthy organizations fighting violence against women, but they do so by hosting performances of a play that demeans women and calls the rape of a teenage girl her 'salvation,'" said CNS Outreach Coordinator Marc Perrington. "The Vagina Monologues has no place on Catholic campuses, period. We applaud the 200 Catholic colleges that have recognized this demeaning play for what it is, as well as the students and faculty who are defending women's dignity in a mature, Catholic way."

Among the highlights of the alternative programs that are being planned:

Students at the University of Notre Dame have launched the Edith Stein Project  and are hosting a two-day conference on February 23-24 on issues such as sexual assault, women's rights, sexual modesty, and abortion. The conference is financially supported by CNS and has the support of Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins, dozens of faculty members and Fort Wayne Bishop D'Arcy.

The University of St. Thomas in Houston is presenting a play, Traffic in Women, to bring attention to the centuries-old problem of trafficking women for prostitution, pornography or domestic labor. Performances of part two of the trilogy—written by English professor Janet Lowery—began on February 2 and continue through February 12. On Thursday, February 8, St. Thomas will also sponsor a panel discussion on trafficking issues. Dr. Lowery has noted that in contrast to The Vagina Monologues, "a more solution-based response to the problems facing women on the planet today might be to seek a common ground with academic, religious, community, and government leaders through which the plight of oppressed and violated women could be elevated to a public concern."

Boston College students have organized "Dignity of Women Week" later this month which will include a panel discussion, Chastity and Courage, and a talk on John Paul II's Theology of the Body.

Students at Fordham University, Loyola University of Chicago, and other Catholic schools have pro-women events in the planning stages.