by Eileen Hogan Heineman
The audience gathered in the sanctuary of the Lutheran church to see Delle Chatman's play. And "sanctuary" it was, since the auxiliary bishop had sent the cast looking for a new venue when he declared the play "inappropriate" to be performed in a Catholic church.
Fr. Bill Kenneally, pastor of St. Gertrude Church on Chicago's North Side, had read "The Answer", written and directed by parishioner, screenwriter, and theology student Delle Chatman. He thought it was a perfect vehicle to bring about peaceful discussion of the complex issue of abortion.
The play, all of which takes place inside a Catholic church, tells the story of a popular U.S. senator whose successful re-election campaign flies off the track when he is denied communion by the bishop because of a vote he has cast. In the ensuing media flap, it comes out that his own daughter had, unbeknownst to the Senator, had an abortion eight years earlier. It is his personal anguish over the fact that his wife hadn't told him, and the pain of his daughter having made the choice, that brings the Senator to the church in the midst of a busy campaign day.
The cast, mostly St. Gertrude parishioners, began rehearsing for three performances Oct. 1-3. The play and its purpose — to create a forum for calm discussion of the complexities surrounding abortion — were written about in the parish bulletin. Someone called Cardinal Francis George, who in turn called regional Auxiliary Bishop Frank Kane, who in turn called Kenneally, saying they needed to meet. Kenneally sent Kane a copy of the script and a meeting was planned. Fr. Bill was told the play could not be presented in St. Gertrude Church. He indicated that he would immediately find another venue, and the local Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was the first of many to offer their sanctuaries for the compelling drama. The Chicago Tribune covered the "banning" of the play. The publicity swelled the crowds: some 900 people saw the play that weekend.
One could hardly think of a better way to present the issue of abortion. The play is like an onion: each layer peeled off reveals another layer, and as more layers are revealed, there is stinging pain. The Senator comes to grips with being a "pro-choice" politician who doesn't want his own daughter to have had an abortion. He also asks the priest, "What about all the good I have done? What about my votes to bring health care to the poor? My role in curbing the death penalty? Doesn't any of that matter?" His pain and confusion is palpable. More than anything else, the play indicates the incredibly painful ripples that result from abortion.
Much of the audience stayed for discussion with the writer/director afterwards. Chatman allowed everyone a chance to speak and there were opposing views heard. But her goal was achieved: no screaming, no blaming, no inflammatory rhetoric.
It's a shame the Church hierarchy doesn't understand the value of that opportunity.
For more information about the play, visit www.theanswerin2004.com
After witnessing the helpful discussions that followed all three performances of "The Answer," Delle Chatman and Fr. Bill Kenneally decided to send the script and a videotape to the pope, and to appeal Bishop Kane's decision to banish the play from the parish church. Chatman explains why:
"It is our belief that John Paul II's experience as an actor, director
and playwright might lead to a more informed review of our intentions and a
reversal of the archdiocesan ban. We hope that a papal review of this endeavor
could open the door to more productions not just of this play but of other dramas
linked to discussion sessions that end painful silences, build bridges of
communication where none existed, and reveal previously obscured common ground
between people whose divisions melt under the compassionate warmth of a complex
human story well enacted. We want to make a case for theater as an
instrument of grace, and it occurred to us both that in our Pope we actually
have an artist who could understand."
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