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Cover
story Actor uses humor to teach kids about sex, sin and video
games
By PATRICIA LEFEVERE
Special Report Writer Bloomingdale, Ohio
Doug Barry drew a big laugh here when he told a tent full of teens
that "women are like crock pots; men like microwaves."
Barry is funny. But he wasn't talking only about sex. He was also
talking about scandal.
"Clothing can be scandalous. ... What you're wearing, girls, may
not help guys look at you in a holy way," Barry said. He moved swiftly from
seductive attire to wearing shorts and jeans to Mass. If invited to the White
House, "would you dress like that? Would you wear a baseball cap?" Barry
pitches his question at a baseball-capped boy, then turns his own cap
backwards.
He slouches down the aisle in front of the teens: "I've just
received the Author of the Universe in the eternal sacrifice of Calvary. ...
The guardian angels are lying prostrate on their faces before him. ... And I'm
walking back from communion like it's a catwalk."
Barry, his sidekick, Ed Vizenor, and Tammy Splonskowski, all of
Lincoln, Neb., are part of RADIX, named after the Latin word for root.
The nonprofit Catholic music and drama ministers perform 130 to 180 gigs each
year. Last month RADIX made its fifth visit this year to Catholic Familyland,
where it entertained and instructed youth from 4 to 20.
"There's lots of fluffiness and tons of confusion" among today's
teens, Barry said, noting that some have never heard of mortal sin. But he and
Vizenor fixed that. No youngster left without knowing the commandments, what
happens when you break them and how to examine your conscience. Nor did anyone
depart without going to confession.
RADIX employs laughter to instruct. Some examples:
- "God speaks to us through the Holy Catholic church, the
magisterium, tradition, scripture, the clergy, but not fortune cookies,
horoscopes or astrologers."
- "Damn is not part of God's name. Have you ever heard 'Buddha
damn it,' 'Mohammed damn it' or 'Allah damn it'?"
- "Satan knows theology better than we do. He's coming at us with
candy-coated video games, books, comics, MTV, magazines." In answer to a
preteen's question about a video game, Barry said, "Would Jesus Christ be
playing Mortal Combat with the Pharisees?"
Some have compared Barry's antics -- he acts with his neck, knees
and nose, as well as his eyes and voice -- with those of Robin Williams or Jim
Carrey. Barry said he doesn't intentionally try to copy them. The actor no
longer goes to movies and has given up watching MTV, Jay Leno and David
Letterman.
At 22, Vizenor is a decade younger than Barry, who's married with
three preschool children. A guitarist and singer, Vizenor is using his ministry
to discern whether he's being called to the priesthood. He has entertained
thousands of kids, including three gatherings of up to 2,500 teens at
Franciscan University in nearby Steubenville, Ohio.
Both men believe it is essential that Catholic youngsters have a
prayer life rooted in the sacraments, the rosary and praying before the Blessed
Sacrament.
Barry urged teens to remain chaste in their hearts and minds as
well as in their actions, noting that "the subtle selling of sex is
everywhere." Why is sex outside of marriage always wrong? No one knew until
Barry told them: "It breaks God's design."
While French kissing may be a mortal sin, abortion, euthanasia and
suicide "are always, always mortally sinful," he said, but added that "only God
can read every heart."
On drinking, he was emphatic: "Getting drunk is a mortal sin if
you know and give full consent, and helping people get drunk by being the
designated driver is mortally sinful."
Barry said he does not touch issues of the death penalty or "just
war" theory with teens. "They're just too complex."
After five years of working with youth, he finds them troubled
over relationships, entertainment, astrology and "New Age" phenomena. His
advice to youth: "Become a saint. It's God's will, so cooperate with his
teaching."
The call to sainthood will be more attractive, he believes, if
youngsters can see life as an adventure. "Go your own route, but remember
you're not the first to go there."
Finally, "look at John at the foot of the cross and know that
there is no need to run away."
National Catholic Reporter, October 3,
1997
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