French bishops have voiced their outrage over the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, condemning it as an offensive portrayal of Christian beliefs. In a statement, the bishops expressed their solidarity with Christians worldwide who were hurt by the event’s depiction of the Last Supper, which featured drag queens in place of Jesus and his apostles.
The bishops deplored the “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity” and emphasized that the offensive acts do not represent the views of the French people. They hoped that Christians outside of France would understand that the ceremony’s controversial content stemmed from the ideological biases of a few artists rather than the nation as a whole.
Bishop François Touvet, president of the Communication Council of the Bishops’ Conference, separately protested against what he called a “scandalous and serious insult” to Christians globally. He highlighted the need to respect religious symbols and traditions, criticizing the ceremony for its provocative content.
Marion Maréchal, a Member of the European Parliament, echoed the bishops’ sentiments. On social media, Maréchal emphasized that the offensive scene was the work of a “left-wing minority” and did not reflect the broader French population. She assured Christians worldwide that the ceremony’s content was not representative of France.
Maréchal’s statement on social media read: “To all the Christians of the world who are watching 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 for any provocation.” Her message included the hashtag #notinmyname.
The controversy over the Olympics opening ceremony has sparked widespread debate about the appropriateness of such depictions in a globally viewed event. The bishops’ statement and Maréchal’s comments reflect a broader concern among conservative groups about the erosion of traditional values in contemporary cultural expressions.
