Curious opinions about the blasphemous Olympics in Paris were given by the Austrian pastor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Fr Johannes Lackner, in an interview with Kathpress. In this event, the clergy saw the “ecumenical and interreligious” qualities.
At the Olympics, Fr. Lackner was part of an global squad of 40 pastoralists who worked as spiritual guardians at the alleged Multifaith Center in the Olympic village. Catholics met false religions together in prayer, which for the interviewer Kathpress is to be “a witness to ecumenism and interreligious friendship.” He himself met the Olympic imam, Hindu clergymen and another representatives of pagan cults. There too, Fr. Lackner celebrated Holy Mass for the Austrian squad and English for guests from abroad.
Among 71,500 of her ceremony participants closing The Games were besides attended by Fr. Lackner. In an interview with Kathpress, he said that “no Austrian athletes came home without a medal.” The Austrian Olympic chaplain, who provided spiritual support to the athletes of his country, blessed them before the competition and all associate of his country's Olympic squad gave a “wonderful Medal” commemorating the apparition of Our woman Saint Catherine Labouré, a novice of the Sisters of Mercy in Paris on Rue du Bac Street.
The Olympics aren't just medals. Anyone who took part in them is besides a function model for Christians erstwhile it comes to pursuing the goal," Fr. Lackner said.
In parallel with the Olympic Games, the alleged "Holy Games" was besides held, which the Conference of Bishops of France created with a view to highlighting the Christian dimension of the Olympic Games. – Churches wanted Paris to become a place to preach faith said Fr. Lackner. He pointed out that the program enjoyed a peculiar interest of youth, youth groups and student movements, during which lectures, services and talks discussed subjects concerning religion and sport.
Fr. Lackner was besides impressed with the evidence of the religion of athletes, specified as the German athlete Yemisi Ogunleye, who prayed to God before the final stroke of the ball and won the gold medal. It was equally unique to confess the religion of 27-year-old judo player from Lower Austria Aaron Fara, who, despite falling out of competition earlier, thanked “Jesus Christ, my Savior.” – In his conversation with the media, he besides showed a tattooed cross on his chest, which he had to cover during the competition said Fr. Lackner.
The Olympic Chaplain besides spoke of inconsistencies in the assumptions of the widely understood Olympiad. The Multifaith Center was an expression of appreciation that religion is crucial and takes place in the Olympic Village. At the same time, however, political or spiritual signs were not allowed to be exposed during the competition.
Fr. Lackner besides described the performance at the beginning ceremony of the Olympic Games, repeatedly criticized by the Church as “persistlage, masked ridicule from the Last Supper”, as “unnecessary”. This staging was "contrary to the Olympic spirit, which is in fact characterized by common respect and cohesion between nations". It was a “funny of holiness” which he felt hurt by the feelings of Christians.
Source: KAI
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