Olympic Opening Ceremony Sparks Outrage Over "Mockery" of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper"
French bishops, US companies and political figures react to 'The Last Supper' drag queen performance at Paris Olympics
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The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics has sparked widespread backlash and controversy after a performance featuring a "drag queen" parody of Leonardo da Vinci's iconic painting "The Last Supper" drew criticism for disrespecting religious beliefs.
The ceremony, which took place on the Seine River, featured 6,800 athletes parading along a 6-kilometer route with 85 boats, and was broadcast live around the world. However, the performance depicting Jesus Christ and his disciples as drag queens has been condemned by many as an insult to Christianity.
The Catholic Church of France has expressed its disapproval, stating that the ceremony contained scenes that mocked Christianity, which it deeply regrets. The French lawyer Fabrice di Vizio has announced plans to file a complaint against the performance, citing spiritual damage caused to Christians.
Other critics have argued that the performance promoted LGBT propaganda and disrespected religious sensibilities. Marion Marechal, a far-right French member of the European Parliament, called the performance an example of a left-wing minority's willingness to provoke Christians.
Bishop Robert Barron from Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, described the performance as "a kind of disgusting, arrogant mockery" and said it was not respectful to present Jesus' Last Supper in such a flippant manner.
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) condemned the mockery of Jesus Christ, stating that it indicates complete ignorance of freedom and human dignity. The Archbishop of Malta, Charles Scicluna, also condemned the performance, saying it was deeply offensive.
Egypt's Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Muslim learning, condemned the "insulting scenes" of Jesus Christ during the opening ceremony.
In response to the backlash, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a formal apology, stating that there was no intention to show disrespect to any religious group and that they intended to promote tolerance and community. However, this apology has not appeased many who feel that their religious beliefs have been disrespected.
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