Led by Bishop Peter Jugis, Catholics in the Charlotte, N.C., Diocese have protested a newly-opened play for its "gravely offensive" portrayal of Mary as a lesbian and its mocking of the virgin birth.

The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, which opened Feb. 2 at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, also retells the creation story with two homosexual couples.

"The implication that the Blessed Virgin Mary is a lesbian is gravely offensive to Catholics and to all Christians, who hold Mary in the highest regard as the mother of the Saviour," Jugis wrote in a Jan. 31 letter to the performing arts centre.

Written by Paul Rudnick in 1998, the play is being performed by the Queen City Theatre Company.

Glenn Griffin, the theatre company's artistic director, emailed one of opponent of the play and refused to cancel it.

"QCTC will strive to create theatre that not only entertains but enriches, educates, and challenges our audience.

We are a theatre company that is known for producing works that make people think," Griffin said.