Church Publishes Appeal against Controversial Theatre Play

The Catholic Church alleges that the play disrespects the faithful.

The Archdiocese of Split-Makarska expressed its dissatisfaction with the inclusion of play “Our Violence and Your Violence”, directed by Croatian theatre director Oliver Frljić, as part of the “Marulićevi Dani” theatre festival in Split. It claims that the play offends the feelings of citizens and the faithful, and calls on the organizers to reconsider the decision, reports Večernji List on April 22, 2017.

“In this way, we ask all those responsible to once again re-examine the appropriateness of the play as part of the national cultural festival Marulićevi Dani. We ask them to take the necessary steps to ensure that the content which is not worthy of the names of Marko Marulić and the town Split does not offend the people and disrespect the culture itself,” said the Archdiocese of Split-Makarska in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Culture, the Split-Makarska County, the Town of Split and the Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Split.

The Archdiocese claims that it was prompted to act after receiving many inquiries from the believers, who were hurt with feelings of sadness and disappointment, regret and disgust. It sent a cry to “everybody in our homeland, in our Split and in our cultural institutions, especially in the HNK, to take care of the cultural and spiritual upbringing and education of individuals and society.”

“How can we not be sad when culture is dressed in the veil of rude provocation, of insulting the feelings of citizens and believers of our town and Croatia? How can we not be sad when the programme incorporates a play which offends God, the man and the nation, although it is known that it has already been condemned by the national and international public due to its content?” asks the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese has urged believers to pray to the Lord that “this appeal touches the conscience and hearts of men so that the language and the way of communicating of the modern man is not offensive to other people and does not mock the values ​​and feelings of others.” “Only in this way can we promote a culture which inspires and does not offend and humiliate,” concluded the Archdiocese.

According to the official programme of this year’s festival, which will conclude on 28 April, the performance of Frljić’s play is scheduled for Monday evening at the Croatian National Theatre in Split.

According to media reports, the play includes a scene of a naked woman with a hijab on her head who at one point takes the national flag out of her vagina and, shortly thereafter, the actor representing Jesus Christ descends from the cross (made of plastic canisters) and rapes the Muslim woman.

 

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