The controversy from the opening ceremony is still making headlines. Yesterday, Parisian police arrested six Christians who were on a bus driving around Paris to bring attention to a Last Supper parody and its perceived anti-Christian message.
This action was organized by CitizenGo, a group that describes itself as “a community of active citizens who work together, using online petitions and action alerts as a resource, to defend and promote life, family, and liberty.” They had a bus driving around the French capital with a clear message on its side: “STOP ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS!”
NEW: 6 Christians arrested for driving a bus around in Paris that read ‘Stop Attacks On Christians’ on the side.
According to @CitizenGO, 6 of their team members were forced to spend the night in jail for denouncing the Olympics opening ceremony.
Three women were forced to… pic.twitter.com/AJHYCacsvU
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 7, 2024
So, what led to this dramatic move? It was in response to a controversial sketch during the opening ceremony, where drag queens, a rotund lesbian, and a transgender TV celebrity parodied the Last Supper. This performance, in the presence of a child, sparked outrage among some Christian groups.
CitizenGo took to social media platform X to express their frustration, stating, “Six of our team members were forced to spend the night in jail for simply denouncing the mockery of Christians.” The message “STOP ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS” on the bus was their way of voicing their discontent.
Reportedly, three women from the group were forced to undress for a drug search and were put into prison without food and water. According to CitizenGo, a lawyer confirmed that the bus’s use was not illegal. The lawyer argued, “It appears impossible to constitute the crime of failing to communicate a protest because there is no protest in the presence of one unique vehicle.” The lawyer also claimed that the prosecutor pushed the law to its limits to stop the bus and restrict free speech.
CitizenGo insists this incident is an example of anti-Christian political and ideological persecution. After the arrests, the police escorted the bus out of the city.
Despite the controversy, the French Bishops’ Conference responded by criticizing the parody but emphasizing the importance of focusing on the Olympics’ main purpose: human sporting prowess. The Paris Olympics has indeed showcased incredible athleticism and competition, but the opening ceremony’s controversy continues to cause disquiet.
Thomas Casemore, writing for the Catholic Herald, argued that the justifications offered by the ceremony organizers made the situation worse for Christians. They claimed the parody was a tribute to the mythical Greek god Dionysus, which didn’t sit well with many.
A week after the criticism erupted, the Vatican finally issued a statement in French expressing sadness over certain scenes at the opening ceremony and joined those who were offended. The statement highlighted that an event of such global significance should avoid making ridiculous allusions to religion.
Many were upset over the July 26 ceremony that evoked Jesus and his apostles from Da Vinci’s famous painting. It featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch, an LGBTQ+ icon, wearing a silver headdress resembling a halo, flanked by scantily dressed drag artists and dancers. France’s Catholic bishops said it mocked Christianity. The ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, denied inspiration from the “Last Supper,” stating it was meant to celebrate diversity and French gastronomy.
