Performances of The Vagina Monologues on Catholic university and college campuses are in steady decline after eight years of protest, according to the national Catholic organization that has led public opposition to the lewd production. The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) reports that the number of U.S. Catholic campus performances scheduled for 2009 are now at 15, fewer than half their largest number of 32 in 2003.

The Vagina Monologues is a sexually explicit and offensive play that favorably describes lesbian activity, group masturbation and the reduction of sexuality to selfish pleasure. In one scene, the lesbian seduction and rape of a teenage girl is described as the victim’s “salvation” that “raised her into a kind of heaven.” Although the V-Day organization, which sponsors the Monologues, has the admirable goal of raising awareness about violence against women and girls, the purpose is thwarted by the Monologues’ pornographic and demeaning content.

CNS sent letters to each Catholic college president whose campus was listed on the VDay.org website as hosting a Monologues performance. As of today, performances are still scheduled or have already occurred at 15 Catholic colleges and universities nationwide.

“We are hearing from more Catholic college and university officials that they are appalled by the content of the V-Monologues, but they feel compelled to allow campus productions as an exercise of academic freedom,” said Patrick J. Reilly, CNS President. “In fact, there is no academic value to a third-rate, vile play presented to celebrate lesbian activity, objectify women and sell tickets, no matter how worthy the cause.”

“Catholic colleges and universities have a duty first and foremost to present the Truth to students,” Reilly continued. “The Holy Father has made it clear that ‘academic freedom’ can no longer be used as cover for ignoring the abuse of Catholic identity. A growing number of Catholic educators are embracing Pope Benedict’s vision for the future.”

In his April 2008 address to Catholic college presidents, Pope Benedict XVI stated: “In regard to faculty members at Catholic colleges universities, I wish to reaffirm the great value of academic freedom. In virtue of this freedom you are called to search for the truth wherever careful analysis of evidence leads you. Yet it is also the case that any appeal to the principle of academic freedom in order to justify positions that contradict the faith and the teaching of the Church would obstruct or even betray the university's identity and mission; a mission at the heart of the Church's munus docendi and not somehow autonomous or independent of it.”

The following 15 Catholic colleges and universities are identified by V-Day as hosting The Vagina Monologues in 2009:

Bellarmine University
College of Saint Rose
College of the Holy Cross
DePaul University
Fairfield University
Fordham University
Georgetown University
John Carroll University
Loyola University Chicago
Regis College
Santa Clara University
Saint Mary’s College of California
Saint Xavier University
Seattle University
University of San Francisco