I suppose I wasn’t completely surprised by the Jan. 5 letter to the editor by Doug Larsen (“Play was offensive to Christians”) about Drama Dock’s recent play “Nuncrackers.” Being offended is all too common in our polarized society.

I am a practicing Catholic and a longtime member of Drama Dock. As a boy, I attended Catholic grade schools and high school, and I knew clergy members who resembled those characters in “Nuncrackers.”

I was on the board when we chose “Nuncrackers.” There was certainly no intention on our part to offend anyone. Mr. Larsen says we would never poke fun at the Hindu or Buddhist religions. True, we poke fun at what is familiar, and most of us don’t know much about those religions. If we did, I imagine we would.

The play “Nuncrackers” does not attack Catholic beliefs. For the sake of comedy, it creates familiar stereotypes and situations. I felt that some of the stereotypes were even endearing and sympathetic.

Mr. Larsen makes a huge leap when he tries to equate “Nuncrackers” to art depicting the crucifix in urine or a painting of Mary in dung. I wonder if we saw the same play.

I suppose Mr. Larsen would label me just another one of those “progressives.” Maybe so. But I do believe that God created in us an ability to appreciate humor. And I think that victim-less humor is not anti-Christian. And I don’t believe anyone was intentionally victimized by the play. If that makes me a “progressive,” then he’s correct.

— Jim Roy