Despite the apologies of the Paris Olympics organising committee, Broken Bay Bishop Anthony Randazzo said the Opening Ceremony was a “profound misstep” that left many disappointed and offended. Source: Broken Bay News.
“The 2024 Paris Olympic Games should have been a celebration of global unity, excellence, and the Olympic spirit. However, the opening ceremony has left many deeply disappointed and offended, particularly within the Catholic Christian community,” Bishop Randazzo said in a statement.
“The choice by the organisers to use a scene with unabashed references to the well-known Last Supper depiction of Jesus and His Disciples was a profound misstep.
“This scene, laden with blasphemous undertones, coincided with the beginning of the Catholic Church’s liturgical reading of Chapter 6 from the Gospel of John – the Bread of Life Discourse.
“Political correctness and woke ideologies often purport to uphold respect, dignity, and inclusion for all people. Yet, this event starkly highlighted how superficial these values can be when genuine respect and understanding are lacking.”
Bishop Randazzo said the “Eucharistic life of Christians, and especially Catholics, is deeply rooted in John 6, which is central to our faith”.
“This passage holds the profound truth that Jesus Christ gave himself to the world as bread for our journey through life, to nourish and strengthen us spiritually, so that we might attain eternal life,” Bishop Randazzo said.
“The portrayal in Paris, rather than fostering inclusion and respect, did the opposite. It disrespected a fundamental aspect of Christian belief and worship.
Bishop Randazzo said that while “this episode is regrettable and demands to be called out as false, we must not lose sight of the noble objectives of the Olympic Games”.
“These Games aim to foster fraternity among all peoples of the world, promote excellence in fair competition, offer genuine respect among brothers and sisters in the human family, and pave the pathway for peace in our time.”
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Bishop Anthony: Paris Olympic Games Opening Ceremony a misstep with offensive scenes (Broken Bay News)
