"Despite protest, play mocking pope opens at U" by Graydon Royce, Star Tribune
The controversial play, "The Pope and the Witch," opened Friday night at Rarig Center after it's Thursday opening was canceled due to the snow. About 70 representatives from the St. John Vianney College Seminary stood outside the center singing hymns and reciting the rosary and Lord's Prayer while 250 marched past them to see the play. Some scences in the play include the fictionary pope injecting himself with heroin and has him advocating the legalization of drugs, yet wanted to take away birth control.
The challenge in this story is being sensitive to all parties involved. It is important to cover both sides, paying close attention to the side who has taken offense to the play.
Paul Tosto wrote about the controversial play for the Pioneer Press. Tosto wrote a more argumentative story highlighting the stronger views of those who oppose the play. Blasphemous, anti-Catholic, sacrilege, and vile are just some of the terms used by those who oppose the play. Tosto also highlights the online squabble over the play that has been taking place in blogs and forums.