Drag queen 'Last Supper' at Olympics
Controversial tableau fallout spills into its second week
Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
On Saturday, the Vatican released a statement that declared “The Holy See was saddened by certain scenes during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games,” making headlines over a week after the opening ceremony was held.
If you missed the controversial opening ceremony, Executive Editor Clemente Lisi recaps it here. In short, several queer performers, including three drag queens from “Drag Race France,” were posed in a way that resembled Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ painting.
In today’s top story, contributor Randall E. King — who has over 40 years of experience in media — analyzes the tableau and the way it was broadcast. He asks several important questions: What did the artists intend? What’s the context, compared to the larger ceremony? How should Christians respond? Don’t miss his thoughtful analysis.
The Last Supper Or Feast Of Dionysus: What We Actually Witnessed At The Olympics
(ANALYSIS) The shot shared ‘round the world following the Olympics Opening Ceremonies was actually a brief matter of seconds in a four-hour live presentation. Whether it was — in fact — a shot at Christ and his followers using Leonardo da Vinci's iconography or just a misunderstood tableau for the feast of Dionysus, as the show producers claim, the moment is better understood in motion, as video shows better than stills. by Randall E. King
The Holy See Responds to Olympics Opening Ceremony Controversy
Fallout from the “Last Supper” scene during the Opening Ceremony at the Paris Olympics spilled over into a second week after bishops from around the world — and even the Vatican — issued statements calling out the display as offensive to Christians everywhere. The Holy See said ir was “saddened” by the display, while others called on the IOC to “repudiate this blasphemous action.” by Clemente Lisi
VP Pick Walz A Lutheran With Connections To Minnesota’s Muslim Community
In her bid to be the nation’s first female president, Kamala Harris tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, thrusting the outspoken Minnesota Lutheran into the national spotlight. Walz, 60, brings political experience as well as suburban-and-rural appeal to the presidential race. by Clemente Lisi
Married Priests And The Rise Of Breakaway Catholics In Africa
Splinter Catholic movements within Kenya have gradually found their voice in the country’s religious scene and have maintained a steady following despite strong opposition from conservative voices in the local Catholic Church. The rise of the breakaway Catholic churches traces its roots to the May 2006 wedding of ex-Catholic priest Godfrey Shiundu to a former nun. by Joseph Maina
Equatorial Guinea’s Decree Forcing Worship Registration Threatens Religious Freedom
Equatorial Guinea has a history of infringing on religious freedom dating back to the 1950s. The country is at it again using legislation to forcefully close numerous churches and deny thousands the freedom to worship. Six Pentecostal and evangelical churches were shut down by the government last year alone due to their failure to abide by registration regulations. by Calvin Manika
Crossroads Podcast: Get Ready For Young And Conservative Catholic Priests
More than two decades ago, a veteran Catholic priest and educator explained some ecclesiastical math to me. The late Father Donald Cozzens was talking about one of the biggest religion-news stories of the past half century — the growing shortage of priests at Catholic altars. To understand the problem, he said, you need to view it through the eyes of mothers and fathers. by Terry Mattingly
Olasky’s Books For August: The Christian Way To Assist A Hurt Brain
(ANALYSIS) One of the many things I learned from Tim Keller is that Jesus does not make a problem go away: He makes it not so important. For Christians who are dying, the anticipation of good things to come can overwhelm the bad thing that’s happening. Sometimes we pray for a physical healing and it miraculously happens, but we might also pray that hope exceeds hurt. by Marvin Olasky
‘Shepherds For Sale’ Provides A Mixed Bag Manifesto For The Religious Right
(REVIEW) “Shepherds” is certainly a book that is stuffed with footnotes, each page linking to multiple articles and websites to back up her claims. It’s unfortunately a book many people will jump to either attack or support without actually looking up the sources themselves. But it is a book that requires just that to responsibly engage with it. To Basham’s credit, she provides the footnotes for people to check her work. For this review, I did not fact-check every source that Basham cited. by Joseph Holmes
On Religion: Why Battles Over Parental Rights Are Not Going Away
(ANALYSIS) In another parental rights case that may reach the Supreme Court, California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed legislation banning policies that require public educators to tell parents if their children take steps, at school, to change their gender identities. The state wants to protect children who believe they are trans from their own parents, if parents' beliefs clash with what is taught at school. by Terry Mattingly
☀️ Hot News: From Ryan Burge’s Church Closing To Trump Rally Prayers To American Exorcisms 🔌
In the summer heat, here are a few notes of interest from the world of religion news. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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