Famous atheist columnist and comedienne Catherine Deveny has apparently been banned( or rather her booking was cancelled) from appearing at St Joseph’s College. Deveny who will be appearing at the Global Atheist Convention next week was apparently too controversial. It seems that the principal of the college was pressured by prominent members of the catholic community to drop the entertainer because she holds belief that are not consistent with the catholic church (her and about 50 % of lay Catholics).
So it seems that you can only speak at St Joseph’s college stadium if you are catholic or not in conflict with catholic views. Fair enough if you are holding a closed house event but if you are using the venue to generate income by holding events for the wider community well it seems a little…churlish?
But its par for the course isn’t really? What’s good for the minority of uptight Catholics is good for everyone. Just imagine if the had the power to take over public venues like racecourses or a cities streets. Or indeed have laws enacted so that you couldn’t wear mildly intelligent but offensive t-shirts taking the piss out of Catholics.
Ah well it could be worse, Deveny might be locked up for offending the religious if she were to take her show to England.
Photo: ABC Radio
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I'm surprised the school had issued the invite to Deveny in the first place (or accepted the offer, however the show was arranged). Surely they were aware of Deveny's views?
I don't have a problem with a church-based school opting not to host speakers who hold atheist views (or any other "extreme" stance). It would, after all, be against the church & the school's ethos. What the school should be doing is accepting of fact that some of their students may choose to see such speakers outside of the school community. The school could then provide an opportunity for the students and the teachers to discuss what they heard. Most parents of students attending a religious school would be happy with that.
I have no issue either if they are using the venue as a just for catholics thing but if its become the default performance venue for the town I see an issue. Can't get much more on the story as its in print only.:(
Pfft. Ridiculous.
[...] as a comedian, which is problematic considering that she’s not particularly good at it. Sure, she shouldn’t be outcast on the grounds of prejudice, but that doesn’t mean she should be sought out to begin with. [...]