CatholicVote is increasing pressure on the Los Angeles Dodgers over its invitation to an anti-Catholic “transgender” drag queen group the team invited to participate in its Pride Night game on June 16, 2023.
The Dodgers also plan to provide the anti-Catholic group, known as the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” a “Community Heroes Award.”
According to Fox News, CatholicVote president Brian Burch sent a letter to Dodgers owner Mark Walter and CEO Stan Kasten to express his group’s concern over the team’s invitation to the anti-Catholic group.
“I represent the nation’s largest lay Catholic advocacy organization,” Burch says in the letter. “We are supported by millions of devoted Catholics across America who believe that the time-honored values of life, family, and freedom — which the Dodgers used to celebrate — are demonstrably good for America, and worthy of respect, not ridicule.”
“We wrote to you last week with a reasonable ask: Please do not honor this anti-Catholic hate group,” Burch continued. “There is no place for anti-Catholic bigotry, mocking of religious sisters, or celebrating a perverse activist group whose identity is marked by blasphemy and mockery of Catholics.”
Burch added that he doubts the team’s claims that they were “listening to everyone” regarding the issue. He said that CatholicVote is preparing a $1 million commercial campaign to urge people to boycott the team over its decision to support a hate group.
“Prior to the launch of this campaign, we are requesting yet another opportunity to speak by telephone or to meet in person with an appropriate representative so that you can better understand the extraordinary harm and hurt your decision has engendered,” Burch said.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) also criticized the team for partnering with the “Sisters.” In a statement, Rubio questioned whether the Dodgers are being “inclusive and welcoming” by providing a group of “transgender drag performers” that mocks Christians and nuns with an award.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue also condemned the Dodgers’ decision to give the Community Hero Award to the “obscene anti-Catholic group.”
Let's be clear. @dodgers aren't just welcoming the "queer nuns" as part of their Pride Night. They are giving them a "community heroes" award.https://t.co/g5JQGbdllC
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) May 23, 2023
Donohue claimed that the Dodgers tarnished their civil rights record “by promoting bigotry, not fighting it,” adding, “By rewarding anti-Catholicism, the Dodgers have broken bread with the most despicable elements in American society today.”
Catholic Bishop Robert Barron also called for a boycott of the Dodgers for its support of a “transgender” drag queen group.
Barron said Catholics must boycott the team because it is “clearly not responding to a decent appeal to reason” for the team’s support of the “transgender” group.
The issue arose after the Dodgers received criticism for plans to give the hate group a “Hero award” at its Pride Night game. At first, complaints from Catholics and Christians caused the team to disinvite the “Sisters” from its Pride Night. Despite this, radical pro-LGBTQ organizations pressured the team to make another reversal.
On May 22, 2023, Dodgers President Stan Kasten announced that the team would be reinviting the anti-Catholic group to their game.
