Final answer:
The Catholic Church did not institute holidays specifically for playing sports and games; instead, it adapted pre-Christian traditions into its calendar to celebrate religious themes and ease conversions. Public festivities often accompanied these holidays, but participation in sports was not mandated by the Church.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about the Catholic Church instituting holidays where sports and games had to be played is false. The Church has been influential throughout history in the establishment of holidays and festivals, many of which coincided with pre-Christian traditions or were aimed at celebrating specific religious themes or saints. While such holidays often did involve public festivities, the idea that the Catholic Church designated certain holidays specifically for mandatory sports and games is not accurate.
Throughout history, the Church incorporated existing non-Christian holidays into its calendar, adapting them for Christian purposes to ease the transition for new converts. Examples include the celebration of Christmas on December 25, which coincided with the festival of the sun god Sol Invictus, and Easter, which coincided with various fertility festivals. Additionally, religious dramas and outdoor plays often occurred around these holidays, particularly by the post-medieval period, but there was no strict requirement for sports and games.
Public endorsements of religious festivities, such as Mardi Gras or St. Patrick's Day parades, involve significant public involvement and cost, but the Church itself did not institute these as sports-related events. The interaction between church celebrations and public spaces can sometimes draw controversy and involve the courts, especially in diverse societies where multiple religious expressions are present in public spaces.