Did the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Cross the Line Between Tolerance and Disrespect?

The recent controversy surrounding the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics has sparked heated arguments as well as varying emotions in the light of what has been perceived as a mockery of Christian beliefs.

This involved a very polarizing act depicting Jesus as a drag queen clapping for what has been regarded as sacrilegious performances in what was supposed to be the table for the Last Supper.

For a Catholic believer like me, it is very difficult to understand how such a concept had been conceived without considering the sensibilities of those belonging to the Christian faith. Furthermore, how could such a performance be included in what should have been a unifying event for all the world to see?

The Olympics is a place where we can finally come together as a people, where sportsmanship should unite us and where we can walk side by side with camaraderie and respect.

However, including a performance that can be offensive to those of another belief has created further division instead of unity, barriers instead of bridges where we can reach out to one another in brotherhood and respect.

Although some may invoke tolerance, we should never forget that even tolerance should never be used as a license for disrespect.

Any attempt to show diversity must not neglect the sensitivities and feelings of those from a different faith. It should instead encourage openness, dialogue and trust.

Ours is a world that is quickly becoming secular, a world where religions that have been highly regarded in the past can be easily forgotten by many.

Let this not be a reason for disregarding those who hold firm to their spiritual roots.

Let this instead be the driving force that calls us to listen to one another and express our beliefs without mocking the values that other people hold dear in their hearts and souls.

“A tolerance that no longer distinguishes between good and evil would become chaotic and self-destructive, just as a freedom that did not respect the freedom of others or find the common measure of our respective liberties would become anarchy and destroy authority.” - Pope Benedict XVI

“We need to remember that tolerance is not a Christian virtue. Charity, justice, mercy, prudence, honesty — these are Christian virtues. And obviously, in a diverse community, tolerance is an important working principle. But it’s never an end itself. In fact, tolerating grave evil within a society is itself a form of serious evil.” - Archbishop Charles Chaput

Jocelyn Soriano wrote the books 366 Days of Compassion, To Love an Invisible God, and Defending My Catholic Faith. To support Jocelyn in her “full-time mission” as a Catholic writer, please consider subscribing, upgrading your subscription, buying her books or giving her a tip via Ko-fi.