Christians Express Outrage Over Olympic Opening Ceremony Featuring Drag Queen as ‘Last Supper’
The French bishops expressed concern for all Christians around the world who were affected by certain scenes that were deemed excessive and provocative, as stated on the Vatican website.
Catholics and other Christians reacted strongly to the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, which featured a satirical portrayal of Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with drag queens dressed provocatively.
Outrage swiftly followed the performance on July 26.
“Would they have dared to disrespect Islam in a similar manner?” questioned Catholic Bishop Robert Barron of the Winona-Rochester Diocese in Minnesota on the social media platform X.
“This secular, post-modern society is clearly defining its adversaries—we should take note,” he added.
The controversial presentation included drag artists representing various cultures arranged around a dining table, while a nearly naked blue man, purportedly depicting the Greek god Dionysus, emerged on a silver platter adorned with flowers and grapes.
Organizers issued an apology following the ceremony.
“My intention was not to provoke, mock, or offend,” stated creative director Thomas Jolly. “Above all, I sought to convey a message of love, inclusion, and unity—not division.”
Mr. Jolly clarified that the LGBT-themed performance aimed to represent Greek gods at a banquet, distancing it from any reference to Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painting.
They condemned the scenes of mockery as an insult to Christianity, a sentiment shared by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
The French bishops reiterated their solidarity with Christians globally who felt hurt by the provocative scenes, as mentioned on the Vatican’s news site.
John Yep, CEO of Catholics for Catholics, expressed skepticism regarding the performance not being a mockery of Christianity, urging Christians worldwide to assert their faith in Jesus.
He referenced a similar incident at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where protestors gathered after the announcement of honoring an anti-Catholic drag queen group during an LGBT “Pride Night.”
Mr. Yep emphasized the significance of responding to such situations to protect the future of democracies globally.
