This is the article that appeared in the June 2023 edition of Catalyst, our monthly journal. The date that prints out reflects
the day that it was uploaded to our website. For a more accurate date of when the article was first published, check out the news release, here.
As we went to press, we learned that the Los Angeles Dodgers have reinvited the anti-Catholic homosexual drag group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, to an LGBT event. But this issue is not over.
It was announced in mid-May that the “Sisters” were to be presented with a Community Hero Award at the “10th Annual LGBTQ+ Night” on June 16 at Dodger Stadium.
On May 16, Bill Donohue sent a letter to the head of Major League Baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred, asking, “if a group of white boys in black face—a modern day Al Jolson ensemble—were to be honored by an MLB team, there is little doubt that the event would be cancelled and sanctions would be forthcoming. There is no difference between this and the hateful farce of awarding the ‘Sisters.'”
On May 17, the Dodgers disinvited the “Sisters.” But then gay and trans activists, along with local government officials, besieged the Dodgers. On May 22, after meeting with these people, the Dodgers reinvited the “Sisters.”
The Dodgers not only reinvited the bigoted drag queens, they apologized to them, thus endorsing anti-Catholic bigotry.
In a statement released to the press, the Dodgers said they had “much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and generous discussions with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.”
There was no indication that Catholic leaders, clergy or lay, were invited to participate in these “honest conversations.” Only one side was listened to—the side that sponsors hate speech. The fact that gay and trans leaders agreed with the vulgar anti-Catholic rhetoric and behavior of the “Sisters” means they now have no moral leg to stand on when asking for an end to bigotry against them.
Donohue anticipated that the decision to disinvite the “Sisters” could happen, which is why he personally prepared a report on them the day before they were reinvited. It is available now on our website and will be published in the next edition of Catalyst.
Donohue said he would love to sit down with Stan Kasten, president and CEO of the Dodgers, and Manfred, after they have read the report, and then ask how can they possibly defend such an obscene anti-Catholic group. No decent person could possibly defend such a vicious assault on Catholic sensibilities.
Our next step is to persuade Catholics in the Los Angeles area not to attend Pride Night on June 16. By boycotting this event, we can send a message to the Dodgers, and to Major League Baseball, that anti-Catholic bigotry cannot be tolerated.
To this end, we sent the report to every parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
