Church leaders lament 'scenes mocking Christianity' at Olympic Opening Ceremony - updated

Photo by Amada MA on Unsplash

Source: Eglise Catholique/Vatican Media

Many faith leaders and politicians around the world have expressed their disappointment and concern over part of the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympic Games which included an apparent parody of Da Vinci's Last Supper.

In a statement released yesterday the French Bishops' Conference praised the "wonderful moments of beauty, joy, and rich emotions," but expressed their thoughts "to Christians worldwide who were hurt by the excess, and provocation of certain scenes."

It was a ceremony of superlatives. The first-ever Olympic opening ceremony on the Seine River featured a parade of sports delegations on 85 boats, numerous artistic tableaux, and performances by global artists, such as Canadian Céline Dion and American Lady Gaga.

The French Bishops said: "The opening ceremony offered the world wonderful moments of beauty, joy, rich emotions, and universal acclaim," but "included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we deeply deplore."

At the forefront of the criticism across was an apparent reenactment of Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' by ten men in drag.

Following the globally broadcast ceremony, many faith leaders expressed their solidarity with the French Catholic Church, according to the statement.

"We think of all Christians worldwide who were hurt by the excess and provocation of certain scenes," the French Bishops said. "We hope they understand that the Olympic celebration extends far beyond the ideological biases of a few artists," continued the French Episcopal Conference.

The General Secretary of the CEF, Father Hugues de Woillemont, highlighted on social network X the contradiction between the "displayed inclusivity and the actual exclusion of certain believers. It is unnecessary to hurt consciences to promote fraternity and sisterhood."

Bishop François Touvet, President of the CEF's Communication Council and coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, "strongly associated" himself with the Church of France's statement. On social media, he declared: "I protest, like many, against this scandalous and grave insult to Christians worldwide, not forgetting the other excesses of the show."

In response to requests for explanations, Michaël Aloïsio, spokesperson for the Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee, responded on Saturday, July 27, on Franceinfo: "We stand by our decision to push boundaries."

The CEF concluded its statement by recalling that sport "is a wonderful activity that profoundly delights the hearts of athletes and spectators," and that Olympism is a "movement serving the reality of unity and human fraternity."

The opening ceremony ended on a hopeful note, unanimously appreciated by spectators, with one of the evening's highlights: Céline Dion concluding Edith Piaf's 'Hymn to Love. from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, letting the last words of the song resonate in the Parisian night: "God reunites those who love each other."

Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini branded the contentious scene insulting and "sleazy". He said: "Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians across the world was a really bad start."

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, wrote on X that "the derision and the mockery of the Last Supper" at the Paris Olympics, which he said was "rightly deplored" by the French bishops, "reveals a profound question. Everyone, absolutely everyone, wants to sit at the table where Jesus gives his life for all and teaches love," he said.

American Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, who chairs the Board of the National Eucharistic Congress yesterday pointed to the irony that, shortly after tens of thousands coming together to venerate the Eucharist in Indianapolis, "Nearly one billion men, women, and children, in person and through live telecast, witnessed the public mockery of the Mass."

He said Da Vinci's Last Supper, "was depicted in heinous fashion, leaving us in such shock, sorry and righteous anger that words cannot describe it."

Cozzens said: "We are invited to enter into this moment of passion with him, this moment of public shame, mockery, and persecution. We do this through prayer and fasting," he said, urging Catholics to pray at Sunday Mass for "healing and forgiveness for all those who participated in this mockery."

For those who speak publicly about the performance, Cozzens urged Christians to "speak clearly, but with charity."

In a video post on X, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, founder of Word on Fire ministry said the parody reflected a "deeply secularist postmodern society" and represented "gross mockery."

Barron questioned why France, which prides itself on a culture of "honouring the individual and of human rights and freedom" based on the country's Christian roots, chose to "mock the Christian faith."

He urged Christians and Catholics to not be passive, but to make their "voices heard."

His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos OBE, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom said in a statement:

Like many, I was looking forward to the opening ceremony of this year's Olympic Games hosted by Paris, expecting a unifying moment that could bring us together in a way that transcends the conflict, polarisation, geopolitical posturing and war that has gripped the world. I was saddened however by what appeared, and is now globally perceived to be, a parody and blatant derision of the Last Supper during the opening ceremony. I have taken time to reflect and have allowed time for the International Olympic Committee or the National Olympic Committee to provide clarification. It has been forty-eight hours since the ceremony and there has been no adequate response.

If it was not the intention of the organisers to depict the Last Supper, and it was indeed meant to represent the Feast of Dionysius as is being alluded to by some, then why has there not been an official clarification of what was intended, and why is there no apparent concern on behalf of the organisers in light of the global response and offence felt and expressed by so many around the world? The only responses to date have been to refer to France's rights regarding freedom to worship and to not worship, which does not address the offence caused by the misrepresentation of a beautiful moment in history and one that is core to the Christian Faith.

Inclusivity, diversity, and freedom of belief and the right not to believe are not protected or advanced by such disrespect to millions globally.

At a time when we are working globally to protect the freedom of religion or belief for all, we must ensure that it is safeguarded for everyone around the world, equally. If this performance had mocked the beliefs of any other religious community, or any other community for that matter, it would be a cause for equal concern and offence.

It has been reported that the opening ceremony video has been removed from official Olympic channels and that some funders and advertisers are responding by withdrawing their support. If the offence caused was unintentional, then clarification would be a remedy, but if this was indeed, even in part or by inference, a depiction of the Last Supper, then that is entirely unacceptable.

Many Christians, as well as those of other faiths and none, around the world have been offended by this performance, and this must be a consideration for members of the International Olympic Committee, for whom the impact of hurtful and offensive terminology around a number of issues has been a focus, and yet they remain silent on this matter. The Olympic Games represent a space that has historically been inclusive and welcoming, and the perception of the global community has always been, and should always remain, important in this space that is meant to be safeguarded as respectful of the diverse nature of all humanity.

I, like many, will sadly be looking at this year's Olympic Games very differently. I will be wholeheartedly supporting Team GB and Team Egypt, and will be in admiration of every athlete who has been training for years to reach this milestone. I will think back to the days of London 2012 when there was so much solidarity and such joy, and think how very differently if feels today, and how far we are from that.

Pursuant to the International Olympic Committee's own guidelines which stress respect, consistency and sensitivity "irrespective of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation", I call upon the International Olympic Committee and National Olympic Committee to directly address the global offence that this performance has caused, as I pray for a spirit of accountability and wisdom.

Meanwhile -

Dr Raymond Friel OBE, CEO, Caritas Social Action Network posted on X: Is this a mockery of Christianity or a (pretty crass, in my view) postmodern reading of a cultural icon? That's why the 'why not Islam' doesn't wash with me. It's the post-Christian secular culture overlaying their ancestors' greatest hits. Bait for the culture warriors.

Fr Kevin O'Higgins SJ, wrote: The inclusion of Dionysus, the design of the 'crown' & the number of people involved in the #OpeningCeremony tableau - should have cautioned against a rush to judgement re any connection with the Last Supper. As so often, much of the outrage was/is ill-informed and misdirected!

Fr Russell Pollitt SJ, from the Jesuit Institute South Africa posted: Where is the outrage from Church authorities about the killing of thousands in Palestine, Ukraine, Somalia, Congo, Nothern Mozambique, Myanmar…? Yet in hours statements are being released about #Olympia2024 Has the Church become so irrelevant that this is the publicity we need?

Pope Francis - at the end of the Angelus with pilgrims in St Peter's Square on Sunday, spoke of the "many people in the world who suffer due to disasters and hunger" while "we continue to produce and sell weapons and burn resources, fueling wars, large and small."

"This is an outrage that the international community should not tolerate, and it contradicts the spirit of brotherhood of the Olympic Games that have just begun" he said."Let us not forget, brothers and sisters: war is defeat!"

Austen Ivereigh posted today (30 July 2024): The temptation of victimhood, dwelling on our sense of grievance … And losing perspective. Aren't the famine in Darfur & the genocide in Gaza the true targets of Christian rage? Yet how many bishops make viral videos about them?

LINKS

Historian analyses Paris Olympic Games Opening Ceremony: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/50312

French Catholic Bishops Conference on X: https://x.com/Eglisecatho/status/1817137074408939925

Bishop Robert Barron on Fox News: www.foxnews.com/video/6359494035112