Bishops of Peru reject blasphemous work against the Virgin Mary sponsored by the Pontifical Catholic University

The Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) suspended the presentation of the play “María Maricón” after a wave of protests and criticism for its content considered offensive to the Catholic faith due to the use of the image of the Virgin Mary in a considered manner. blasphemous

The work, which was scheduled for January 30 and 31 as part of the “Festival Exiting the Box”, generated a strong reaction from the Peruvian Episcopal Conference (CEP), who expressed his deep indignation and rejection.

According to the official synopsis, it is a “testimonial performance work that explores the conflict between religion and gender through the deconstruction of different Catholic virgins and saints.” In addition, its poster shows the main character, a man who identifies as homosexual, wearing a transparent outfit that alludes to the image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The PUCP announced this Tuesday the cancellation of the eventapologizing to the community and public opinion for the “misuse of religious symbols” and ratified “the Catholic principles” that govern the institution.

The decision was made after the CEP issued a statement regretting that the Faculty of Performing Arts of the PUCP endorsed a work whose advertising, title and content instrumentalized the image of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary in a manner considered humiliating.

The CEP statement “deeply regrets” that the Faculty of Performing Arts of the PUCP and FARES “endorse and sponsor a theatrical work,” taking into account that its “advertising, title and content instrumentalize and allude to the image of the Immaculate Heart.” of the Virgin Mary, in humiliating manner that offends the Catholic faith and that goes against the current of a university community that is statutorily defined as Catholic and that has a pontifical title.”

The text also requests the educational and religious authorities of the PUCP to take the “necessary corrective measures” in the face of what they describe as a “regrettable case”, and also apologize to the Peruvian people, who love and venerate the Virgin Mary.

Furthermore, it remembers “that Marian devotion is intrinsic to faith in Christ, who is our Common Good,” and that Mary, “acclaimed in 381, the Theotokos, the Mother of God, is also the Mother of the Church and Mother our”.

Although the Episcopal Conference also defends freedom of expression in the statement, it states “that it is not an absolute right and has limits, especially when it conflicts with other rights, such as religious freedom, faith and devotion of the Peruvian people.”

These limits, emphasizes the CEP, are even more rigorous given that “PUCP is a Catholic and pontifical universitywhose purpose is to transmit Christian values ​​and is subject to the pontifical teachings and magisterium.”

Cardinal Carlos Castillo, Archbishop of Lima and great chancellor of the PUCP, also spoke about the controversy expressing their “indignation and rejection” of this work.

He noted that the work included “aggressive and disrespectful elements against the faith of our people” and added that the promotion of the event was equally “injurious to our Christian faith.”

“There are people or groups that, having to represent it faithfully to its purposes, allow themselves to carry out actions contrary to the founding and current spirit of our university,” added the archbishop.

Cardinal Castillo closed his message by urging the university to reaffirm its commitment to its founding values ​​and to avoid behaviors that encourage “superficiality, lightness and indifference.” He also urged the PUCP to respect its statute and adopt an attitude of “apologizing and rectifying.”

“The PUCP has always stood out for its sensitivity and commitment to the victims, as well as their hopes and faith,” he highlighted.

The controversy also provoked reactions from the Peruvian governmentwith the Ministry of Culture announcing that it would evaluate corrective measures to protect the fundamental right of religious freedom “and the protection of religious festivities considered intangible heritage that is part of the Cultural Heritage of the Nation.”

Likewise, the Municipality of San Isidro, where the PUCP Cultural Center is located, had previously demanded the immediate withdrawal of advertising of the work, since “it represents a clear offense to the feelings of the Catholic community of our district and the country in general.”

In its statement, it emphasizes that the work constitutes “a clear lack of recognition and respect for the right that people have to safeguard the integrity of their religious faith, which is guaranteed by the Political Constitution of Peru.”