World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, in a letter to the International Olympic Committee and the French Olympic Committee, urgently called for an explanation of what has been perceived as a depiction of the Last Supper during the Olympics opening ceremony.
“In particular, it has angered many Christians who are disgusted and appalled by the mockery of the Christian faith as depicted in what is considered to be a portrayal of the Lord’s Last Supper,” wrote Pillay. “The World Council of Churches would like you to explain to us in detail the use of this idea and whether it was intended in any way to refer to the Christian faith.”
Pillay reflected that the Last Supper is essential to Christian beliefs and practice and any form of mockery shows the highest form of disrespect and insensitivity.
“The WCC is represented by 352 member churches with over 600 million Christians in the world,” Pillay wrote. “As the largest ecumenical fellowship in the world, we have a responsibility to respond to the concerns of Christians raised about the perceived mockery of the Christian faith in the Last Supper scene in the ceremony, and thus request your immediate response to our request.”
Read the full letter here
Source: oikoumene.org
