The Pope and the Witch continues to generate controversy

by George L. Glotzbach

"The Pope and the Witch", described as a clearly anti-Catholic play, was performed at the Rarig Center at the University of Minnesota during the week beginning March 1. Plans for the play sparked an outpouring of protest that the University would sponsor such anti-Catholic bigotry, and that it was funded by the tax dollars of the very people it offended. 

The University's own Web site advertised: "it is easy for such a rich Church to rage against abortion when millions are born into poverty, and become victims of the drug trade, from which people under the Vatican's protection can fill their pockets." It was an affront to the state's 1.6 million Catholics.

The first performance was cancelled because of a blizzard. "God has spoken" quipped Dennis McGrath, spokesman for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, as reported in the Star Tribune.   Concerned about reactions to the play, the University resorted to random bag searches of attendees. 

Protesters at the event included 70 men from St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League in New York, assailed the play as "state sponsored hate speech."

The controversy has continued to grow as correspondence poured in to the University and it's President Bruininks. Now Governor Pawlenty has become involved, and the Legislature is investigating the matter. It remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved.