Why Did They Do That?
Why did they do that?
In case you have not heard, the opening ceremony for this year’s summer Olympics in Paris Francis, included what has been called a “drag queen led parody of the Last Supper” (CNA staff, “Catholics, others respond to mockery of Last Supper at Paris Olympics.” Catholic News Agency, July 28, 2024. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258428/catholics-others-respond-to-mockery-of-last-supper-at-paris-olympics).
Catholic leaders and others across the world have been responding to the inclusion of the scene (AC Wimmer, “Catholic leaders join French bishops in condemning Last Supper scene at Paris Olympics opening.” Catholic News Agency, July 28, 2024. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258429/catholic-leaders-condemn-last-supper-scene-at-paris-olympics-opening). Their response have included calls to boycott the Olympics, to let our objections be heard, and for prayer and fasting.
I did not watch the opening ceremonies. It is my understanding that drag queens participated in a reenactment where they portrayed apostles.
Why would the Olympics include such a scene?
As Christians, we are told not to speak against the morality of the LBGT+ lifestyle. We are told to do so is hate speech. It must never be our intention to promote hate in any way. We seek to present moral truth as God has given it us (see my article “Tolerance, Hate Speech, and Dialogue.” January 12, 2021). Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery. He did tell her to “Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.” (John 8:11).
The Catholic News article reports, “The official Olympics Twitter account described part of the scene as depicting “the Greek God Dionysus“ making people “aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.” “ (“Catholic Leaders join..”).
Yes, the violence we see between human beings today is absurd. What does this scene have to do with that?
They have taken the Last Supper, the last moments of Jesus’ life before his Passion, where Jesus gives us the Eucharist, an event foundational to Christianity, and corrupted it. Why? What is to be gained by this?
Perhaps they wanted to make the LGBT+ community feel welcome at the Olympics. If so, did they not think about how it would make Christians feel? This scene took a key moment in Christianity and twisted it to suit their needs.
The Olympics are meant to be a worldwide event that brings people together. People from many different cultures and religions come together at the Olympics as athletes, staff, and spectators. I think normally, because of the many different religions of the people at the Olympics, the Olympic ceremonies do not include religious activities. So, again why was this scene included in the opening ceremonies? Even people of non-Christian religions might find it offensive and wonder when will their religion receive similar treatment.
If the Olympic planners meant this to be a sign of inclusivity and depolarization, I think it does more to accomplish the opposite.
It reminds me of what I wrote in my article, “Pro-Choice or Not?” (June 4, 2024). Their worldview says the LGBT+ lifestyle is fine and must be tolerated by all. Yet, they do not respect our beliefs. They argue for people to have the freedom to choose a LGBT+ lifestyle but do not respect our believes and suppress our freedom of speech.
Hearing this, it leads me to recall the phrase that we, as people of faith, are “in the world but not of the world.” We live in this world and are called to engage the world in living and sharing our Christian beliefs. Yet, we are not created for this world (see John chapter 17). We are created to be with God in the world to come.
Bishop Cozzens, who chaired the just completed U.S. National Eucharistic Revival, wrote in a statement yesterday, “Throughout salvation history, the Lord and his prophets have called us—the people of God—to respond to the darkness of evil with the light that comes from the Lord. At the heart of this call are prayer and fasting. Jesus told us that some demons “can only come out through prayer [and through fasting] (Mk 29:9).”
Yes, let us unite in prayer for our freedom of religion to practice our faith, gather for public worship, and to speak openly in a loving manner, the truth of our faith.
Peace,
Fr. Jeff
P.S. If you would like to understand Catholic teaching on homosexuality and gender ideology, please see my articles:
“Towards Dignity and Truth: Compassionate Dialogue on Homosexuality”
Towards Dignity and Truth: Compassionate Dialogue and Pastoral Response on Transgenderism
I also refer you to my article “Seeking Real Dialogue.”