A recent petition campaign launched by the Foundation of Christian Lawyers of Spain has gathered nearly 80,000 people demanding sanctions against the Paris 2024 Olympic Games organisers.
The campaign comes in response to a controversial parody of the Last Supper featuring drag queens performed during the Olympics opening ceremony, which has sparked outrage and denunciations from Catholic and other leaders around the world.
The spectacle, part of a €1.5 billion (about $1.62 billion) opening, featured drag queens portraying the apostles and an overweight DJ as Jesus in what appeared to be a fashion show that seemingly mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting. The event has been described by Christian Lawyers as a “horde of drag queens and half-naked homosexuals recreating the Last Supper, in the umpteenth attempt to humiliate our beliefs with impunity.”
In their petition, the Christian Lawyers expressed their deep indignation: “There is little or nothing left of the healthy spirit that filled stadiums around the world decades ago at each Olympic Games. Respect, tolerance and sportsmanship characterized this international event, in which the only thing that mattered were the athletes and the competitions in which they participated. Now, the most grotesque spectacles and the promotion of woke ideology steal the limelight from the talent and sacrifice of the athletes.”
The organisation argues that such shows violate the Olympic Charter, which expressly condemns discrimination on the grounds of religion. “It is a real shame that they have decided to take advantage of the magnitude of the Olympics to humiliate the beliefs of so many Christians around the world,” the campaign says.
“We therefore hope that the person responsible for planning this inaugural ceremony will receive an exemplary punishment and that this attack will not go unpunished,” he added.
The outrage is not only coming from Spain, Catholic leaders from all over the world have raised their voices in protest.
In a statement released on July 27, the French Bishops’ Conference regretted that the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games “included scenes of ridicule and mockery of Christianity, which we deeply deplore.”
“We thank the members of other religions who have expressed their solidarity with us. This morning we think of all Christians, from all continents, who have felt hurt by these disproportionate and provocative scenes. We hope that it will be noted that the Olympic celebration goes far beyond the ideological prejudices of a few artists,” the message continued.
Finally, they stressed that the Olympics must be “a movement in the service of unity and human brotherhood.” “We hope that these Olympic competitions will bring truth, consolation and joy!”
Another person who spoke out about the opening event of the 2024 Olympics was Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, USA, who described Friday’s events as “appalling” mockery, urging Catholics to respond to the spectacle with fasting and prayer.
Bishop Cozzens, who also serves as president of the board of directors of the National Eucharistic Congress, noted that throughout history Christ “has called us, the people of God, to respond to the darkness of evil with the light that comes from the Lord.”
“Jesus experienced his Passion all over again on Friday night in Paris, when his Last Supper was publicly defamed. As his living body, we are invited to enter into this moment of passion with him, this moment of public shame, ridicule and persecution. We do this through prayer and fasting. And our greatest prayer, in season and out of season, is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,” the bishop added.
The International Olympic Committee has not yet issued an official response to the request for sanctions, but pressure from signatories and religious organisations continues to mount, hoping for concrete action to reaffirm the values of respect and non-discrimination that are supposed to govern the Olympics.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games organiser Anne Descamps issued a brief apology on Sunday 28 July for any offence caused by religious depictions and denied any intention to “disrespect” any faith.
“It is clear that there was never any intention to disrespect any religious group (…) If anyone has felt offended, of course, we are very sorry,” he said.