NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      NEW YORK (CWNews.com) - A Manhattan theater reversed its decision on Thursday and announced that it will now go ahead with a planned production of a controversial play that depicts a homosexual Christ-like figure named Joshua who has a sexual relationship with his 12 disciples.

      The Manhattan Theater Club initially canceled production of playwright Terence McNally's "Corpus Christi," citing security concerns over threats concerning the play. But the New York theater community responded with condemnation of the club, calling the move censorship. The club responded by renewing production of the play, saying: "In our 25-year history, we have never censored a play nor turned a play down because of content. The only issue for us has been safety and security."

      The Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, which has denounced the use of threats or violence, had led initial condemnations of the play as blasphemous and insulting to Christians. Trans World Airlines dropped its financial support of the theater over the play. "We will simply continue to publicly challenge their moral right to put on something that is this offensive to Christians," Catholic League spokesman Rick Hinshaw said after learning of the theater club's latest decision.