Rev. Kenneth Himes, OFM offered an explanation during an interview with the editor-in-chief of The Observer, first made public at Campus Report Online, for why the Theology department at Boston College is sponsoring the 2009 campus performances of The Vagina Monologues. The following is in full Father Himes’ defense of “the relationship between the Monologues and theology on a Catholic campus”:

Several years ago the then-head of the Women’s Studies Program asked if theology would cosponsor the performance of the Vagina Monologues at BC. It had already been performed on campus previously. I checked with people at other schools where the ‘Monologues’ had been held and received mixed reviews from people. Some thought it useful for exploring women’s issues if accompanied by panels and discussions. In short, it was judged by some to be a non-classroom educational experience. Others told me they thought it was crude, even vulgar. No one at BC indicated to me that the theatrical work was unacceptable and the administration certainly did not prevent its performance. Therefore, I judged the sponsorship request to be reasonable; it came from responsible people, and it offered the possibility of conversation on serious matters in the context of an educational community. I understand the work is provocative, but that does not translate to the conclusion it is not art. If you had a chance to visit the McMullen Museum to see the wonderful exhibition of Georges Rouault’s works, you know that his work was deemed crude, even vulgar, by some at the time. So giving or taking offense is not always a sure-fire way to judge the value of an artist’s work. Source: Campus Report Online