Blaphemy, is France awakening?

Paris

The Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, has called for a vigil of prayer in reparation for the debut of a theatrical production, judged blasphemous, entitled “Golgotha Picnic”, which enacts a grotesque mockery of the crucifixion, with sexually explicit scenes and insults directed at Christ

Marco Tosatti
Roma

After the case of the theatrical spectacle at the Theatre de la Ville, in Paris, which presented an old man, whose son cleaned him of his excrement before a large image of Jesus Christ, also painted with excrement (the image was later the target of children throwing bombs, and the final message was: “you are not my shepherd”); and after the effective protests of some Catholic youths, supported by the Leferbvrists, who got onstage with a banner and later prayed on their knees on the sidewalk – only to be labelled fundamentalists and extremists - it seems that the French bishops and the Cardinal of Paris have woken up. Maybe after someone in Rome pointed out that it wasn't fitting to leave the defense of the figure of Christ up to a few groups. The Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois has called for a vigil of prayer in reparation for the “debut” of the theatrical production, judged blasphemous, with sexually explicit scenes and insults launched at Christ. The blasphemous work, created by the Argentine-Spanish director Rodrigo Garcia, sparked polemics at its debut in Spain, where it was financed with public funds from the National Drama Center of Spain. In Paris, the premier is scheduled for 8 December, the day on which the Immaculate Conception of Mary is celebrated.

During the representation in Madrid, many spectators left the theatre in the middle of the play due to a display of full-frontal nudity, the crucifixion of a “stigmatized” woman and masturbation by an actress. Before the premier announced at Ront Point theatre in Paris, on the Champs-Elysées, Cardinal Ving-Trois, who is also the president of the French Episcopal Conference, convoked an 8:00 p.m. Gathering of “those who wish for a vigil of prayer at Notre Dame, in the course of which a meditation on the Passion of Christ will be proposed, along with the veneration of the holy crown of thorns”. In addition, the French bishops, thanks to a release signed by the spokesperson Msgr. Bernard Podvin, have pointed out that even if one must repsect the freedom of opinion as “something sacred”, one must also “respect that which is sacred”.

The text affirms that no European institution should finance “a production that denigrates a religion”, and adds that “many non-Christians share our anger. If you too are of this opinion, you cannot remain indifferent. Call your elected officials. Tell them that this is unacceptable and unworthy of a democracy. In November 2009, the European Union reaffirmed its firm commitment for the protection of religious liberty. Christians are active in civil life, and support many causes. May they, too, be respected!” A group of Catholics on French blogs have called the faithful in Paris to leave on 8 December a white rose before the Ront Point theatre one hour before the premier so that the those responsible understand “the pain of Christians and make a call for reciprocal respect”.

Blaphemy, is France awakening?

Blaphemy, is France awakening?

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