Statement of Bishop James D. Conley , July 27, 2024:
One week after the Catholic Church in the United States came together in historic numbers to celebrate our Lord at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, I was thoroughly appalled to see him mocked as part of the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Paris. The deplorable depiction of the Last Supper was not in any way artistic, but instead was a direct and blatant assault upon Christianity. The Last Supper represents Jesus giving his Body and Blood for us in anticipation of his crucifixion. It is one of the greatest acts of love in the history of the world. Never should it be mocked and treated in such a way.
We, as Christians, in union with all people of good will, must stand together and speak up against a culture that deems such displays of contempt for religion acceptable. The Olympic Games should stand for unity, respect and integrity – the opening ceremonies this year failed on all three counts. I call on all people of faith, to dedicate time to prayer and fasting in reparation for this mockery. In times such as these, we are called to defend our faith and the reason for our hope. That reason for hope will not be found in the Olympics, but in Jesus Christ. “Let us then throw off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).
