Church is hosting 'The Vagina Monologues' — and its minister explains why

A New Hampshire church is hosting a presentation of the controversial, sexually explicit spoken-word production "The Vagina Monologues" later this month.

"The Vagina Monologues" has attracted widespread attention and controversy over the years. Playwright Eve Ensler's website notes a partial New York Newsday review of the production: "The most exhilarating part is, no kidding, her extremely virtuosic way with a series of orgasmic moans."

TheBlaze on Tuesday spoke to the Rev. Paulo G. Franca — minister of Plymouth Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ where the production is taking place Feb. 24 — and noted some Christians will view "The Vagina Monologues" at a church as inappropriate.

However, Franca told TheBlaze he believes the play will be viewed in the context talking about "women's bodies without shame."

He added that the production will be held in the church's lower-level Fellowship Hall where the church joins with the community and discusses "wider issues that people are facing in the world." Franca added that the content of "The Vagina Monologues" — which has been around for more than two decades — isn't new territory.

Ensler's website describes "The Vagina Monologues" as a "whirlwind tour of a forbidden zone" with a "wildly divergent gathering of female voices, including a six-year-old girl, a septuagenarian New Yorker, a vagina workshop participant, a woman who witnesses the birth of her granddaughter, a Bosnian survivor of rape and a feminist happy to have found a man who 'liked to look at it.'"

The church website advertises its "must-see production of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play 'The Vagina Monologues.' Your donation of $10 will support Voices Against Violence’s and our church’s commitment to stand up for girls and women survivors of violence."

A flier advertising the event was attached to the end of the bulletin for last Sunday's 9:30 a.m. service.

Plymouth Congregational Church — the "oldest active Christian community in the heart of Plymouth" — describes itself as a "progressive and emerging church of children, youth and elders, families and singles, straight, gay and transgender, life-long Christians, interfaith couples, seekers and doubters."

Ensler's website adds that rights fees for productions of "The Vagina Monologues" will be waived in February as part of V-Day/One Billion Rising to raise awareness about violence against women.