WE, THE members of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), express our sadness over the parody of the Last Supper at the Opening of the World Olympics in Paris, which we believe disrespected the core beliefs of the Catholic Church, particularly regarding Jesus, the Eucharist, and His ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s redemption.
The Olympic stage should unite us, celebrating the human spirit and fostering global camaraderie. However, the apparent mockery of the Last Supper has contradicted these ideals. While the opening ceremony aimed to inspire, a segment of the production has caused deep offense. The Catholic community then cannot stay silent when core religious beliefs are undermined. We must, therefore, engage in respectful dialogue and meaningful conversations in addressing the issue, upholding the values of truth, charity, and unity that the Church embodies, and celebrating the Olympic spirit and ideals.
We are in solidarity with the French Bishops and empathize deeply with the people of France, who have a rich history of Catholicism. The Holy See has also expressed sadness, deploring the offense to Christians in some scenes of the Olympic opening ceremony. In our view, the performance dims the beauty and value of their cultural and religious heritage. The danger of secularism looms large, eroding the respect for sacred traditions. We acknowledge some historians’ perspectives that the depiction may have been intended to represent a feast of the pagan Olympic gods rather than the Last Supper. However, their apology appears to us as gaslighting, and such justification lacks credence. We are then reminded of French Abbot St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s warning that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
We are sad for our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. They are aware that an act of mockery will not effectively put forward their legitimate concerns about gender equality. They, too, have expressed their dismay over the crass performance. Their faith has enlightened them that Jesus offered His life to protect their rights to life and freedom. As we face these challenges, let us remember the words of St. Peter: “Be sober-minded; be watchful (1 Peter 5:8).
We, in CEAP, feel a moral obligation to denounce actions that we perceive as contrary to our faith and values. We are committed to enlightening our students, stakeholders, and fellow citizens from influences that we believe may lead them away from the path of righteousness.
In these times, we gently encourage everyone to be more prayerful and to adhere to our religious beliefs and moral convictions ardently. Let us engage ourselves and stakeholders in thoughtful discernment, always showing respect, charity, and compassion. By deepening our love for the Eucharist and fostering a spirit of harmony and reverence, we can better live and share the faith we cherish.
Together, we profess “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6). May God bless us all! – CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES <ceap-aimu@ceap.org.ph>
