ROME — The Vatican said this weekend it was “saddened” by a drag queen parody of “The Last Supper” that was displayed at the July 26 opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, after critics outraged the Vatican’s long-standing silence on the matter.
“The Holy See is saddened by some scenes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games and cannot help but join the recent voices that lament the outrage perpetrated against so many Christians and followers of other religions,” the statement said. statement.
“An honorable event where the whole world comes together around common values should have no place in any references that mock the religious beliefs of many people,” the statement said.
“Freedom of expression, which is clearly not being questioned, has its limits in terms of respect for others,” the statement said.
It’s vile. https://t.co/KYkFH7HEmH
—Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 27, 2024
The statement came after more than a week of protests from church and civic leaders who condemned the event, which recreated Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting “The Last Supper” with lesbian women replacing Jesus and several cross-dressed men taking the place of the apostles.
Organizers tried to deflect criticism by arguing that the exhibition evoked the Greek Dionysian feast rather than the Last Supper, but several performers claimed that producer Thomas Jolley had made it clear from the start that the scene was meant to mimic the Last Supper.
France’s bishops were the first to condemn the anti-Christian parody, saying they deeply regretted “scenes of ridicule and mockery of Christianity.”
The bishops expressed solidarity with “Christians on every continent who are hurt by the outrage and provocation” of the attack.
Marion Maréchal, a French politician and member of the European Parliament, Underlined On social media, some people claimed the sickening scene was not the product of the French people, but of a far-left minority in France.
Olympic opening ceremony director claims Drago’s Last Supper was inspired by ‘great pagan festival’, not the Bible https://t.co/LX7h24R68e
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) July 29, 2024
“To all Christians around the world who watched the #Paris2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking, but a left-wing minority ready to respond to any provocation,” Maréchal said. Posts I posted to X with the hashtag “#notinmyname.”
Bishop François Touvet, chairman of the Communication Council of the Bishops’ Conference, said in a separate statement: Protest “We oppose this shameful and grave insult to Christians around the world.”
Many Christians felt the Vatican’s belated statement was lukewarm and inadequate, a grudging acquiescence to grievances rather than a statement of Christian leadership.
“This couldn’t be more passive and half-hearted. Needless to say, it’s long overdue.” I have written Catholic apologist Patrick Madrid, in a Medium post, seemed to sum up much of the public sentiment surrounding the Vatican’s response.
Thomas D. Williams The looming persecution of Christians: Why it’s getting worse and how to prepare for what’s coming.
