Bishop Robert Barron, head of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and a prominent Catholic influencer, has warned that it is “open season on Christianity” following a controversial segment in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony that he believes mocks the Last Supper. The event, which featured drag queens parodying Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting, drew widespread backlash from Christians around the world.
Bishop Barron stated. “I see this clear mockery of the Last Supper,” Barron stated. “For Christians, the Last Supper, when Jesus, in anticipation of his death, gives his body and blood to the world, is at the center of Christianity. To see drag queens cavorting in imitation of da Vinci’s Last Supper, how could Christians not see that as a slap?”
Barron criticized the focus on inclusivity in the media, arguing that it often excludes Christians. “Everyone’s included, except for Christians, except for believers,” he said. “They can be mocked and marginalized all you want. We saw the same thing last year with the LA Dodgers controversy. I have very little patience for that. The so-called avatars of inclusivity are brushing aside Christians.”
In a video posted to X, Barron lamented the display to his more than 285,000 followers. “What do I see but this gross mockery of the Last Supper,” he said. He further argued during his Fox News appearance that the mockery is part of a broader cultural and philosophical struggle against Christianity. “You have a very secularist, very materialist, post-modern culture that knows who their enemy is. The Christian churches stand as the great institutional opponents to this worldview. When they have a chance, they mock the enemy.”
Barron urged Christians not to acquiesce to such mockery, invoking the teachings of Jesus to “turn the other cheek” as a nonviolent way to engage with and confront perceived evil.
The controversial segment featured various performers, including drag queens and a woman in a halo crown, parodying “The Last Supper.” The image sparked outrage among Christians and conservatives, with Barron expressing disappointment that a country with such a rich Catholic heritage would mock an important event from the Gospels.
Those behind the segment claimed it was not intended to offend Christians but to honor the Greek god Dionysus. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps addressed the backlash, stating, “There was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. The opening ceremony tried to celebrate community tolerance.” She added, “If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry.”
The official X account of the Olympic Games explained, “The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.”
Barron rebutted these claims, highlighting the problematic nature of ancient myths compared to Christian teachings. “Many of these ancient gods were marked by extraordinary amounts of violence,” he said. “Christianity proposes a God who is indeed a God of love, of forgiveness, compassion, and nonviolence.”