[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
             NEA FUNDING FOR OBSCENE PLAY `CORPUS CHRISTI'

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply disturbed this morning 
listening to NPR, National Public Radio, regarding a play called Corpus 
Christi, written by Terence McNally, playing at the Manhattan Theater 
Club in New York City. This play is a blasphemous, pseudo-creation by 
homosexuals about the life of Christ.
  Now, the first thought I had was, how much money did the NEA provide?
  Sure enough, in a letter on June 11, 1998, the chairman of the NEA 
admitted, ``The theater did apply to the NEA for funding to support 
development of Corpus Christi.'' It goes on to say, ``After 
consideration, the NEA approved an award of $31,000 to support the 
development of this play based upon the information provided in the 
application.''
  The NEA now claims the money was eventually used for other purposes, 
but this entire situation further shows that the NEA still does not get 
it and uses taxpayers' money to fund questionable projects that are 
antithetical to our values.
  I call on Bill Ivey, Chairman of the NEA, to cut off all funding, all 
funding, to the Manhattan Theater Club today.

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