A bishop, who gained attention for his criticism of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony that was seen as mocking the Last Supper, has declared that it’s “open season on Christianity” following widespread backlash to the event.
Bishop Robert Barron, leader of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and a prominent Catholic figure online, spoke on “Fox News Live” about his immediate reaction to the apparent “clear mockery” and the motives behind the controversial skit in the opening ceremony of the summer games.
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“I perceive this evident mockery of the Last Supper, and for Christians, the Last Supper, where Jesus, foreseeing his death, offers his body and blood to the world… it is central to Christianity. Hence, to witness… drag queens and others mimicking da Vinci’s Last Supper, how could Christians not see that as an affront?” Barron expressed during a discussion on Saturday.
“I’m perplexed by some of the… coverage there… with all the focus on inclusivity,” he continued. “It seems like everyone is included, except for Christians, who can be ridiculed and belittled without consequence. We witnessed a similar situation last year… with the LA Dodgers incident… I find little tolerance for that. The champions of inclusivity appear to ignore Christians entirely.”
Barron shared a video on X Friday lamenting the shocking sight of drag queens impersonating Christ and his disciples during the summer games’ opening ceremony.
“What do I find but this blatant mockery of the Last Supper,” Barron told his more than 285,000 followers on X on Friday.
During his Fox News segment, Barron reinforced that it’s “open season on Christianity.”
“It’s manifestly clear,” Barron replied when asked about the reasoning behind the ridicule. “There exists a very secular, materialist, post-modern culture that knows who their adversary is. The Christian churches stand as significant institutional challengers to this ideology. It represents a philosophical and cultural conflict, and they are aware of their enemy, so they seize opportunities to mock it.”
“I don’t believe we should simply submit,” he remarked. “When you reflect on the Lord himself… advising to turn the other cheek and the like is not a suggestion to yield or remain silent. It is a methodology for confronting evil when it manifests, to do so nonviolently, of course, but it is a way to engage and confront what we ascertain as wickedness.”
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The contentious Olympic presentation featured a variety of performers, including drag queens and a prominent woman adorned with a halo crown, parodying “The Last Supper,” a globally recognized painting by Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci depicting Christ and his apostles on the night of Passover prior to Christ’s suffering and death.
The portrayal triggered outrage among Christians and conservatives online, including Barron, who expressed his dismay that a nation with such a Catholic tradition would mock such a significant event from the Gospels.
However, the creators of the controversial segment maintained that the “mockery” was not intended to offend Christians, but rather to pay tribute to the Greek god of wine, Dionysus.
Anne Descamps, a spokesperson for Paris 2024, addressed the criticism over the weekend. “Clearly, there was never an intention to disrespect any religious group. [The opening ceremony] aimed to celebrate community tolerance,” Descamps informed reporters, via Reuters.
“We believe this goal was achieved. If anyone has taken offense, we are genuinely sorry.”
The official X account for the Olympic Games stated, “The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus highlights the absurdity of violence among humans.”
Barron countered those assertions.
“Many of these ancient deities were characterized by significant violence,” Barron stated. “The Christian churches… scrutinized ancient myths and recognized the troubling aspects of ultimate reality. Christianity offers a God who embodies love, forgiveness, compassion, and nonviolence.”
Contributions to this report were made by Fox News’ Gabriel Hays and Timothy H.J. Nerozzi, Ryan Gaydos, and the Associated Press.
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