Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), and 17 Republican colleagues have sent a letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, addressing what they described as a "vulgar depiction of the Last Supper" during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“We write in response to the vulgar mockery of the Christian faith on display at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The Games should unite people of every country, race, and creed. There is no place for anti-Christian bigotry at an event designed to bring the world together. The Games should celebrate the athletes, not denigrate anyone’s faith. We urge you to take immediate action by amending Rule 55 of the Olympic Charter to ensure that no faiths are the subject of mockery as part of the opening or closing ceremonies ever again,” wrote the senators.

The letter calls on IOC leadership to condemn what they view as an offensive portrayal and suggests amendments to Rule 55 of the Olympic Charter to prevent future incidents.

“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should formally condemn the mockery that occurred in Paris of one of the most sacred moments of the Christian faith. Then, the IOC should make formal changes to ensure this kind of divisive display is not repeated to ensure that Coubertin’s vision for the Games may continue to thrive. Every person, from every nation and every faith, should be encouraged to enjoy the Olympics without being belittled or mocked. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” continued their statement.

Among those joining Cassidy and Lankford in signing were U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Risch (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Todd Young (R-IN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Tim Scott (R-SC).

In their correspondence, they emphasized that more than 2.5 billion Christians globally could be impacted by such portrayals, noting regions like Africa with over 700 million believers and Latin America following closely behind.

Referencing Pierre de Coubertin's vision for modern Olympics, they quoted: “May joy and good fellowship reign, and in this manner, may the Olympic Torch pursue its way through ages, increasing friendly understanding among nations...”

They concluded by urging respect for all beliefs at international events such as these.

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