Copa America Opening Ceremony - Christian Blessing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a Canadian, I was very surprised to hear a religious speech before an international sporting event not affiliated with any religion. I put it up to US Christian evangelism. I saw it as somewhat insulting to non Christian fans and players alike. I equate it with having a political speech at a sporting event. Not the time or place. But then, I also don't like national anthems played before NHL league games. At least here there are national teams competing. As for saying that "most" athletes are Christians, that doesn't mean they subscribe to the same values and views of one specific group. Just look at the number of LGBTQ players that play on their national teams. Should they have to listen to a sermon by some group that works to deny their rights and sees them as sinners for who they are. Religion should stay in the church or in your home.

Yep. Totally inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Canadian, I was very surprised to hear a religious speech before an international sporting event not affiliated with any religion. I put it up to US Christian evangelism. I saw it as somewhat insulting to non Christian fans and players alike. I equate it with having a political speech at a sporting event. Not the time or place. But then, I also don't like national anthems played before NHL league games. At least here there are national teams competing. As for saying that "most" athletes are Christians, that doesn't mean they subscribe to the same values and views of one specific group. Just look at the number of LGBTQ players that play on their national teams. Should they have to listen to a sermon by some group that works to deny their rights and sees them as sinners for who they are. Religion should stay in the church or in your home.

Yep. Totally inappropriate.

lemme guess….when they shove down peoples’ throats all that rainbow and alphabet mafia lobby derangement. That’s not inappropriate. Let alone kneeling for a misogynistic pregnant abuser drug user.

Funny, innit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Canadian, I was very surprised to hear a religious speech before an international sporting event not affiliated with any religion. I put it up to US Christian evangelism. I saw it as somewhat insulting to non Christian fans and players alike. I equate it with having a political speech at a sporting event. Not the time or place. But then, I also don't like national anthems played before NHL league games. At least here there are national teams competing. As for saying that "most" athletes are Christians, that doesn't mean they subscribe to the same values and views of one specific group. Just look at the number of LGBTQ players that play on their national teams. Should they have to listen to a sermon by some group that works to deny their rights and sees them as sinners for who they are. Religion should stay in the church or in your home.

Yep. Totally inappropriate.

lemme guess….when they shove down peoples’ throats all that rainbow and alphabet mafia lobby derangement. That’s not inappropriate. Let alone kneeling for a misogynistic pregnant abuser drug user.

Funny, innit?

Are you ok???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this clearly Christian prayer was out of place at this event. However, if tbe same men would have said a similar message without any reference to their own religion, it would have been ok in my view. Had it been an imam, rabbi, hindu, shaman leader saying a similar “wish” for peace, should have also been ok. Just my point of view. The Copa America, as far as I know, does not have a religious affiliation. If these prayers become the norm, will non-Christians be denied advancement opportunities in Conmebol? Will members have to demonstrate how religious they are now? As a previous poster said, “ keep your religion at church and at home”
Signed, a Catholic and Catholic school graduate.

Will players on teams that support rainbow flags and BLM be punished or not promoted if they don't have the correct beliefs or post the right things on social media?

🤔 punished for saying lives matter?

So it's only a belief for some? (In the Christian country)

I don't know - if someone posted "all lives matter" would they get in trouble?

If "all lives" were under the dark clouds of racism and bigotry and institutional discrimination and excessive brutality and overzealous prosecution and incarceration for centuries, then "all lives" as a social call would make sense.

That said, saying blue lives matter doesn't mean grey lives don't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Canadian, I was very surprised to hear a religious speech before an international sporting event not affiliated with any religion. I put it up to US Christian evangelism. I saw it as somewhat insulting to non Christian fans and players alike. I equate it with having a political speech at a sporting event. Not the time or place. But then, I also don't like national anthems played before NHL league games. At least here there are national teams competing. As for saying that "most" athletes are Christians, that doesn't mean they subscribe to the same values and views of one specific group. Just look at the number of LGBTQ players that play on their national teams. Should they have to listen to a sermon by some group that works to deny their rights and sees them as sinners for who they are. Religion should stay in the church or in your home.

Yep. Totally inappropriate.

lemme guess….when they shove down peoples’ throats all that rainbow and alphabet mafia lobby derangement. That’s not inappropriate. Let alone kneeling for a misogynistic pregnant abuser drug user.

Funny, innit?

LOL 😆..
Who shoved Gay down your throat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought this clearly Christian prayer was out of place at this event. However, if tbe same men would have said a similar message without any reference to their own religion, it would have been ok in my view. Had it been an imam, rabbi, hindu, shaman leader saying a similar “wish” for peace, should have also been ok. Just my point of view. The Copa America, as far as I know, does not have a religious affiliation. If these prayers become the norm, will non-Christians be denied advancement opportunities in Conmebol? Will members have to demonstrate how religious they are now? As a previous poster said, “ keep your religion at church and at home”
Signed, a Catholic and Catholic school graduate.

Will players on teams that support rainbow flags and BLM be punished or not promoted if they don't have the correct beliefs or post the right things on social media?

🤔 punished for saying lives matter?

So it's only a belief for some? (In the Christian country)

I don't know - if someone posted "all lives matter" would they get in trouble?

If "all lives" were under the dark clouds of racism and bigotry and institutional discrimination and excessive brutality and overzealous prosecution and incarceration for centuries, then "all lives" as a social call would make sense.

That said, saying blue lives matter doesn't mean grey lives don't matter.

So then the answer is yes - they will get in trouble if they express a sentiment that human life matters in a slightly different way than the one that has been deemed correct. That seems much more likely to me than someone getting in trouble for not being Christian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Canadian, I was very surprised to hear a religious speech before an international sporting event not affiliated with any religion. I put it up to US Christian evangelism. I saw it as somewhat insulting to non Christian fans and players alike. I equate it with having a political speech at a sporting event. Not the time or place. But then, I also don't like national anthems played before NHL league games. At least here there are national teams competing. As for saying that "most" athletes are Christians, that doesn't mean they subscribe to the same values and views of one specific group. Just look at the number of LGBTQ players that play on their national teams. Should they have to listen to a sermon by some group that works to deny their rights and sees them as sinners for who they are. Religion should stay in the church or in your home.

Yep. Totally inappropriate.

lemme guess….when they shove down peoples’ throats all that rainbow and alphabet mafia lobby derangement. That’s not inappropriate. Let alone kneeling for a misogynistic pregnant abuser drug user.

Funny, innit?

You are correct. Religion bad! Cutting off your genitals before you are a legal adult, good!!!

[Anonymous]

Many non-white players are treated poorly by crowds and by other players in Europe. Vinicius has been a victim of terrible name calling in Spain. I also remember Luis Suarez making some awful comments in the past. I can also remember the Mexican fans yelling homophobic chants. So does FIFA have the obligation to support for marginalized groups? Not really, but are Christians called to protect those that are persecuted? I would think so. I am not well versed in Bible quotes, but I can recall something about praying in private and not in front of crowds to be seen.
I forgot to add, as far as I can tell, Christians are not the victims here in the Americas. I think it is quite clear, us Christians, are in the majority and in positions of power. Having an obvious Christian prayer in the opening, seems like Evangelicals pointing out that they are close to those in power. The same prayer, without mentions of Jesus or God, would have been appropriate. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

😆 thank goodness someone who knows it all chimed in. What would the rest of us do? Hey everyone, make sure no one sees you praying, the guy who isn’t well versed in bible quotes said so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Religion should stay in the church or in your home.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Jesus gave Messi the power to triumph over the godless French in the last World Cup. He also did it in a barbaric place like Qatar. Another win for Christ.

[Anonymous]

As an Argentinaian American I want to clarify a few things

1) This has nothing to do with South America and we too found it to be strange and awkward. I received text messages from my family asking what was happening. They all felt it was inappropriate. The just assumed it was an American thing.

2) The Evangelical preacher who gave the sermon is known to crusades against “gender ideology". This was nothing less than a political hit job disguised as a religious message of peace. Judging by the frequent counter arguments about how it's "ok for Gay Pride but not for Jesus" in almost every forum I could find makes it even more clear.

3) To those that think that the Gay Pride messages are as inappropriate as the messages of Jesus... You are missing the point completely. One group is persecuted and can not change what they are. The other group is the intolerant group doing the persecution but perceiving themselves as the victim. The whole reason for Gay Pride is because you are persecuting them by trying to shame them. That's why it's called Gay Pride, because they will not be shamed.

Prayer does not belong in sports. And hatred disguised as prayer is vile and blasphemous.

[Anonymous]

Argentinian gays are the worst. Like your gay pope. He wants world peace by making everyone gay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an Argentinaian American I want to clarify a few things

1) This has nothing to do with South America and we too found it to be strange and awkward. I received text messages from my family asking what was happening. They all felt it was inappropriate. The just assumed it was an American thing.

2) The Evangelical preacher who gave the sermon is known to crusades against “gender ideology". This was nothing less than a political hit job disguised as a religious message of peace. Judging by the frequent counter arguments about how it's "ok for Gay Pride but not for Jesus" in almost every forum I could find makes it even more clear.

3) To those that think that the Gay Pride messages are as inappropriate as the messages of Jesus... You are missing the point completely. One group is persecuted and can not change what they are. The other group is the intolerant group doing the persecution but perceiving themselves as the victim. The whole reason for Gay Pride is because you are persecuting them by trying to shame them. That's why it's called Gay Pride, because they will not be shamed.

Prayer does not belong in sports. And hatred disguised as prayer is vile and blasphemous.

Mandas fruta

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to guess the non-Christian players don't find it awesome.

The best part…God Loves them too![u]