By Fr. Elias Makos
The Interreligious Council of Albania, currently led by Archbishop Anastasios, condemns the violation and desecration of universal values at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in France.
They stress that “based on our Islamic and Christian values, we express our outrage at the assault on moral, religious, and ethical beliefs through a performance that negatively impacts the education of young generations with anti-values and desecrations that involve pagan, immoral, and anti-religious elements.”
The Council emphasizes that “the Olympic Games and sports should be a platform for intercultural communication and the promotion of universal values, bringing nations and people together regardless of their background, color, religion, language, and culture.”
Furthermore, they point out that “this should serve as a wake-up call to the moral crisis in which official national and international institutions, that have a direct influence on society, must be more vigilant in preserving the values that can create a better world for future generations.”
These insights from the Interreligious Council of Albania are relevant as the societal conditions we create and perpetuate daily, shaped by our individual interests, significantly impact the feasibility of living in harmony with our Christian faith.
We must not allow ourselves to accept the prevailing negative conditions, manifested in ideas, and enable their continuation through our tolerance. Conversely, our selfishness and greed can contribute positively to the deterioration of values.
Misinterpreting the values derived from our surroundings has the potential to undermine the overall goals and outcomes that Christian principles aim to achieve.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou