This is the article that appeared in the July/August 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.
The following entries are a brief summary of the actions we took against the Dodgers. As you can see, we were relentless, issuing one news release after another, contacting Catholic and non-Catholic notables in Los Angeles, taking out radio ads, calling out those who were duplicitous, publishing background material concerning previous battles with the “Sisters,” etc.
May 16—Catholic League president Bill Donohue writes to Manfred calling on him to intervene to stop the Dodgers from honoring the “Sisters.” Additionally, at approximately 10:40 A.M. ET, we issue a statement asking Catholic League members to contact Manfred to express their outrage.
May 17—At approximately 3:00 P.M. ET, the Dodgers tweet that they will no longer honor the “Sisters.”
May 17—Within moments of the Dodgers’ announcement, we issue a statement thanking Catholic League members for their efforts.
May 23—Donohue again writes Manfred expressing his disappointment with the change of course and asks for a meeting. We request Catholic League members to contact Manfred once more. Further, we call for a boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night” that honors the “Sisters.”
May 23—We additionally publish a comprehensive report chronicling the anti-Catholic antics of the “Sisters.”
May 24—We write every parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles asking them to join in the boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night.” In his letter, Donohue includes the report on the “Sisters” to galvanize support for the boycott.
May 25—We unveil that efforts to garner support for the boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night” will be a multifaceted approach and will include outreach to many prominent Catholic leaders in Los Angeles.
May 30—We write every Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles asking them to join in the boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night.” In his letter, Donohue includes the report on the “Sisters” to galvanize support for the boycott.
June 5—We publish the correspondence between Donohue and Peter A. Magowan, owner of the San Francisco Giants, from 1995 showing how the team at the time handled a similar controversy involving the “Sisters.” The stark contrast between these two incidents reflects the state of our culture.
June 5—We call on our members to contact California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins about her invitation to honor the “Sisters” on the floor of the Capitol in Sacramento.
June 6—We announce the launch of our radio ad calling on Catholics to boycott the Dodgers’ “Pride Night” on June 16. The ad runs 25 times on KABC from June 6 to 9.
June 7—We contact 126 additional Catholic entities in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles asking them to join in the boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night.” In his letter, Donohue includes the report on the “Sisters” to galvanize support for the boycott.
June 7—Several media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, take note of the Catholic League’s radio ad urging Catholics to boycott the Dodgers’ “Pride Night” on June 16. The robust media response is indicative of the ad’s effectiveness.
June 8—We contact 236 of the most prominent Hispanic leaders in the Los Angeles area asking them to join in the boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night.” In his letter, Donohue includes the report on the “Sisters” to galvanize support for the boycott.
June 12—Based on the success of our KABC radio ads the previous week, we launch a second round of ads urging fans not to attend the June 16 Dodgers’ “Pride Night” game. They run on KABC 25 times from June 12-15.
June 13—We issue a statement on MLB’s double standards in allowing the Dodgers to honor the “Sisters” while tacitly condoning the Blue Jays cutting Anthony Bass for expressing Christian beliefs. Additionally, we encourage our members to contact Manfred again for allowing the team to punish Bass for exercising his First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
June 13—We contact 114 of the most prominent non-Catholic religious leaders in the Los Angeles area asking them to join in the boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night.” In his letter, Donohue includes the report on the “Sisters” to galvanize support for the boycott.
June 14—We announce that the Catholic Daughters of America joined our boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night” honoring the “Sisters.”
June 15—We reach out one last time to everyone we have contacted since this fight with the Dodgers began. Once again we ask these important leaders in LA to support our boycott of the Dodgers’ “Pride Night” honoring the “Sisters” on June 16.
June 16—We post the Dodger “Code of Conduct” which states no religion can be disrespected at their games. Thus did they make a mockery of their own rule.
June 17—Our successful outreach campaign achieved victory as we drove down attendance at the Dodgers’ “Pride Night.” The stadium was practically empty when the “Sisters” were honored, and the few people in the stands booed.
June 19—Following our victory, we reach out to Commissioner Manfred and every MLB owner asking them to heed this as a warning. If they just play baseball, stay out of politics, and never again honor an anti-Catholic group, they can avoid the PR nightmare and the blowback it engenders.
