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He continued, “So I turn on the opening ceremonies in the Olympics. What do I see now? And it’s in Paris, France, a city I love. I spent three years as a doctoral student there. What do I see? But this gross mockery of the Last Supper, and I won’t describe it any further, just go online. It’s gone viral. You can see it.”
The bishop’s frustration was palpable as he lamented the choice made by France to include such a performance. He highlighted the historical significance of France in Christianity, referencing notable figures and events tied to the country’s religious heritage.
“But this… France felt, evidently, as it’s trying to put its best cultural foot forward, the right thing to do is to mock this very central moment in Christianity where Jesus, at His Last Supper, gives His body and blood in anticipation of the cross. And so it’s presented, though, is this gross sort of flippant mockery. France, which used to be called the eldest daughter of the church, Paris, that gave us Thomas Aquinas taught there, and Vincent de Paul was there, King Louis IX., St. Louis. France has sent catholic missionaries all over the world,” Bishop Barron explained.
The bishop also pointed out the deep roots of France’s cultural values in Christianity, emphasizing the irony in mocking a faith that has significantly shaped the nation’s history and principles of individual rights and freedoms.
“France, whose culture, and I mean the honoring of the individual, of human rights and of freedom, is grounded very much in Christianity, felt the right thing to do was to mock the Christian faith,” he said.
Bishop Barron then posed a provocative question, highlighting a perceived double standard in the treatment of different religions in public discourse.
Carry 46 rounds concealed? (comfortably)
“You know, a question I would pose, we all know the answer to it. Would they ever have dared mock Islam in a similar way? Would they ever have dreamed of mocking in this gross, you know, public way, a scene from the Quran? As I say, we all know the answer to that,” he stated.
In his conclusion, Bishop Barron called for a response from the Christian community, urging them to stand firm and make their voices heard in the face of such provocations.
“I think, folks, what’s interesting here is this deeply secularist, postmodern society knows who its enemy is. They’re naming it, and we should believe them. They’re telling us who they are. We should believe them. But furthermore, we Christians, we Catholics, should not be sheepish. We should resist. We should make our voices heard,” he declared.
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The performance at the Paris Olympics has undeniably struck a nerve, igniting a broader conversation about respect for religious beliefs in public events. Bishop Barron’s remarks underscore the importance of this discussion, particularly in a world that continues to grapple with the balance between cultural expression and religious sensitivity.
