Bishop gains popularity for his reaction to Olympics' disrespectful portrayal of the Last Supper: "A green light for religious criticism"

A bishop who gained notoriety for his criticism of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony's depiction of the Last Supper has warned that it's "open season on Christianity" following the event's global condemnation.

Bishop Robert Barron, the leader of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and a popular Catholic influencer, appeared on "Planet Chronicle Live" to share his thoughts on the "mockery" of the opening ceremony skit for the summer games.

On Saturday, Barron questioned, "How could Christians not see the mockery of the Last Supper, which is at the center of Christianity, when drag queens and others imitate da Vinci's Last Supper, as a slap?"

"I'm shaking my head at some of the reporting there, which places all the emphasis on inclusivity, except for Christians and believers. They can be mocked, marginalized, and made fun of without any consequences. We saw the same thing last year with the LA Dodgers controversy. I have little patience for this kind of inclusivity, which ignores the rights of Christians."

On Friday, Barron shared a video expressing his disappointment over the surprising portrayal of drag queens dressed as Christ and his apostles during the opening ceremony of the summer games in Paris.

On Friday, Barron stated to his over 285,000 X followers that what he saw was a grotesque parody of the Last Supper.

During his Planet Chronicle appearance, Barron asserted that it is now "open season on Christianity."

"Barron stated that the mockery is due to the secularist, materialist, and post-modern culture's hostility towards Christianity. He explained that this is a philosophical and cultural conflict, and the churches are aware of their enemy, so they mock them when they have the opportunity."

"He argued that we should not simply accept the situation. Instead, we should confront evil and respond nonviolently, as recommended by the Lord. This approach is not a passive acceptance but an active engagement with the wickedness we see."

The Olympics display showcased a variety of performers, including drag queens and a woman in a halo crown, who mocked "The Last Supper" painting by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting Christ and his apostles on the eve of his passion and death.

An image that provoked anger among Christians and conservatives online, including Barron, who felt dismay that a nation with a strong Catholic background would ridicule such a significant occasion from the Gospels.

The individuals responsible for the contentious portion maintained that their actions were not meant to insult Christians, but rather to pay tribute to the Greek deity of wine, Dionysus.

Anne Descamps, Paris 2024 spokesperson, addressed the backlash over the weekend and stated that there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. The opening ceremony aimed to celebrate community tolerance, Descamps clarified to reporters, as reported by Reuters.

"If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry, as we believe this ambition was achieved."

The Olympic Games' official X account stated, "The portrayal of the Greek deity Dionysus highlights the senselessness of violence among humans."

Barron fired back against those claims.

"Ancient gods were often associated with excessive violence, according to Barron. Christian churches viewed these myths as problematic and saw a God who embodied love, forgiveness, compassion, and nonviolence."

This report was contributed to by Gabriel Hays, Timothy H.J. Nerozzi, Ryan Gaydos, and the Associated Press.