This is an issue that’s been weighing heavily on my mind. This might be a bit lengthy, but I believe it’s something that needs to be said and thought about deeply.
Today we are tackling a sensitive and important question: Where is the Church in the face of secular and social aggression? In particular, I want to focus on the recent event at the Olympic opening ceremony, which featured a performance that was a clear mockery of The Last Supper. This wasn’t just art; it was deeply offensive to many Christians, especially Catholics because of the theological, spiritual, sacramental and culture significance of the Last Supper of Jesus with his Apostles. This issue has prompted outrage among Catholics and other Christians and brings to light a larger issue: the silence of the Vatican and that of many clergy in the face of such blatant disrespect.
What Happened at the Olympics
For those who might not be aware, during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, a drag performance was staged that appeared to mock The Last Supper. While defenders claim it was based on a Dutch artwork known as the “Feast of Dionysus,” the imagery and the manner of presentation strongly invoked The Last Supper, complete with a central figure at a table, hands forming a heart shape that resembled Jesus elevating the chalice, and a crown that looked like a halo. The performance was not only in poor taste but explicitly disrespectful to Christians.
Lack of Response
What’s deeply troubling is the silence from the Vatican. We’ve heard nothing—zilch. The Vatican, which usually has plenty to say about numerous (and often insignificant) issues, has remained completely silent on this one. This, to me, is shocking. I expected some form of response, even if it was just a brief statement acknowledging the incident and expressing solidarity with the offended faithful. But there’s been nothing.
The Role of the Shepherds
Priests, bishops, and even the Pope have roles as shepherds of their flock. When the flock is under attack, spiritually or otherwise, you expect the shepherds to rise up in solidarity, and in their defense. Yes, it’s important to maintain calm and balance, but silence is not the answer. Silent indifference leaves the faithful feeling abandoned and unaccompanied. We’re made to look like fools standing alone to defend our faith when we should have our shepherds standing alongside us. It’s utterly disheartening.
One priest put out a tweet suggesting that perhaps it’s their role to calm the outraged faithful by a demonstration of calm (inaction and silence, if you ask me). He went on to say that Jesus gave His cheek to those who plucked His beard. While there’s merit in calling for calm and balance, it shouldn’t come in the form of inaction and silence, at the expense of ignoring genuine feelings of offense among the faithful. The Church needs to meet its flock where it is emotionally and spiritually, then guide them towards calmness if needed, but not ignore or trivialize their feelings entirely.
What Should the Church Do?
I’m not advocating for every priest and bishop to scream from the rooftops. But some form of response is needed. The Vatican could issue a simple statement, acknowledging the offense and standing in solidarity with the faithful. It could say something like, “We acknowledge the hurt this has caused among the faithful and stand with you. This offense against Christians, and against Our Lord is inexcusable and was wholly unnecessary as an artist expression. We urge everyone to respond with Christian charity while affirming our commitment to the sanctity of our beliefs.”
Just a few words, but they would mean the world to those of us feeling let down right now.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about one incident. It’s a symptom of a larger issue where the Church seems disconnected from the faithful and what they’re experiencing. This results in other “leaders” standing in for the real pastors—people who pounce on the opportunity to lead the faithful astray, into their ideological camps. This has led to extremism on both ends of the spectrum—either radical traditionalism or radical liberalism—as people search for guidance and find it lacking from official channels.
Conclusion
At the end of the day we are not truly alone; Jesus Christ goes before us, the saints are behind us, and the Holy Virgin stands beside us. However, on an earthly level, we need our priests, bishops, and even the Holy Father to step up and lead us as well. Their silence can create a vacuum that others will fill, often to the detriment and confusion of the faithful.
Thank you for reading. God be with you.
