Mockery at Olympic opening sparks outrage among French bishops

The opening ceremony of the games "contained scenes of mockery and derision towards Christianity, which we deeply regret," reads the French Bishops' Conference statement following the Friday opening of the event.

Representatives of the French church spoke out after the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris. The most controversy was stirred by the artistic part of the event, which included references to the painting "The Last Supper," which depicts Jesus's meeting with his disciples just before the crucifixion.

"We believe that the values and principles expressed and disseminated by sport and the Olympic Games contribute to this need for unity and brotherhood that our world so greatly needs, respecting the beliefs of all around the sport that unites us, and to promote peace among nations and hearts," reads the statement from the French Bishops' Conference.

As the bishops reminded us, a mass was celebrated last week for peace during the games — with the participation of many personalities from the world of politics (including the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo) and sports (including IOC President Thomas Bach).

"The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games proposed yesterday by the Organising Committee showed the whole world moments of beauty and joy, full of emotions and universally celebrated. At the same time, this ceremony contained scenes of mockery and derision towards Christianity, which we deeply regret," the French bishops wrote.

"We thank the representatives of other denominations who expressed their solidarity with us. This morning, we share thoughts with Christians on all continents who felt offended by the provocation during some scenes. We would like them to understand that the Olympic celebration is above the ideological message of some artists," they added.

American Catholic Bishop Robert Barron also spoke on the matter, accusing the organisers of the ceremony of believing that "it is appropriate to mock this critical moment in Christianity, in which Jesus gives his body and blood in anticipation of the cross during the Last Supper."

- Would they ever have dared mock Islam in a similar way? This deeply secularist, post-modern society knows who its enemy is—they’re naming it—and we should believe them - added the bishop.