"Teaching God's Word to God's World"
2766 Airport Road, Peru, Indiana 46970, (765) 472-4111
(July 3, 2001) Statement issued by Congressman Mark Souder:
As a former student, student body President, and Alumni Association President of IPFW, I am saddened and angered that one Department of the University has been allowed to besmirch the reputation, through association, of all IPFW graduates.
"Corpus Christi" is a pathetic, poorly written, trashy play that exists solely to upset Christians offended by its blasphemy. It has no redeeming value other than "shock effect."
Performers of this play across America love to demonstrate their contempt for the teachings of Jesus Christ with our tax dollars and then blame Christians for rising to defend our Lord and Savior.
IPFW has done long term damage to itself not just by allowing this play but how it has responded.
Nobody - Nobody really believes the university is as contentious that they would allow an anti-Semitic or blatantly racist play to be performed at PIT. Of course they would not. They should have the decency, the basic decency, to admit the double standard. The beliefs of Christians can be mocked and blasphemed with contempt unlike what would be allowed about others.
PIT has further compounded the problem by initially trying to maintain that it was a university play. Then when pressures arose to hide hatred of fundamental Christian views behind the cloak of academic freedom. It can’t be part of the academy and not part of the academy.
Of course this play is taxpayer funded and supported. But free speech does not include burning crosses on college campuses. Free speech does not include sexual harassment on college campuses. Free speech does not include the right to blaspheme God with "taxpayer" dollars on college campuses.
It is appalling that a few critics have totally contradicted the teachings of Christ by threatening the misguided individuals involved with these decisions. Christ taught mercy, not hatred.
But it is unreasonable to assume that parents and taxpayers will stand idly by and let their own dollars be used to mock the most important and sacred beliefs they hold.
When the university practices a double standard prohibiting some speech but funding religious bigotry against Christians the only recourse of taxpayers who, to repeat, are paying the bulk of the costs fo this play is to seek redress from their elected officials.
IPFW exists because taxpayers are forced to contribute their hard earned dollars to support the university. IPFW’s answer to those taxpayers has been to say: "Well, if you believe we have used your dollars to mock your God, then just don’t come to the play. Nobody is forcing you to come," they say.
But IPFW did force everyone to pay for this play. That is not voluntary. And then the only way for the people to respond is through their elected officials. It is uncertain what the consequences to IPFW will be.
Short term: they sold some extra tickets by allowing the blasphemy of Jesus Christ. But the thousands of people in northeast Indiana, who understand that Jesus is our Lord and Savior without whom we would be lost for eternity will never forget the blasphemy. Let me repeat: We will never forget the blasphemy at IPFW.