In a move that has stirred up controversy, the Los Angeles Dodgers are poised to bestow their Community Hero Award to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group known for its drag queen parodies of Catholic religious habits. This recognition, presented in conjunction with LA Pride, is slated for the Dodgers’ Pride Night, on June 16.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, based in Los Angeles, is a group of men who have adopted Catholic religious garb and rituals, albeit in an attempt to be satirical. Members of the group adopt names such as Sister T’aint A Virgin, Sister Risqué of the Sissytine Chapel, and Sister Edith Myflesh, while their initiation process mirrors that of becoming a Catholic nun.
The group’s mission, according to its website, is rooted in community service and their slogan, “Go forth and sin some more!” encapsulates their mocking approach.
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The award presentation will be conducted by Dodgers co-owners and LGBTQ+ activists, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss. LA Pride President Gerald Garth will also be in attendance, alongside the LA chapter of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who are the designated recipients of this year’s Community Hero Award.
However, the Dodgers’ decision to honor this group has sparked considerable backlash from CatholicVote, a Catholic non-profit organization.
A letter from the group to the Dodgers decried the recognition of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as an endorsement of an “anti-Catholic hate group.” The letter further outlined CatholicVote’s demand that the Dodgers revoke their invitation to the group.
CatholicVote’s letter stated, “The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (SPI) are an anti-Catholic hate group which exists to desecrate and degrade the Catholic faith. Their sole mission is to disgust Christians with the most grotesque acts they can imagine.”
The letter highlighted a 2007 incident in which members of the drag group tricked the archbishop of San Francisco into giving them the Eucharist, subsequently defiling it.
It also referenced a recent Easter event featuring a “Jesus and Mary-themed striptease” and a competition to crown the “hunkiest” Jesus.
CatholicVote President Brian Burch expressed alarm in a statement, suggesting the Dodgers’ decision is particularly concerning given the current climate of violence against Catholic Churches across the nation, with many of these attacks allegedly linked to pro-abortion radicals.
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), since May 2020, there have been at least 255 anti-Catholic attacks on Catholic churches. This includes arson, vandalism of statues, and defacing of gravestones with swastikas and anti-Catholic language.
The Dodgers’ decision has also come under fire from the Catholic League President Bill Donohue, who termed the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence an “obscene anti-Catholic group.” Donohue announced that he is penning a letter to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred regarding the situation.
In a statement, Donohue recalled the Dodgers’ legacy, saying, “In 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers made history by naming Jackie Robinson to its roster. He was the first black man to play Major League Baseball (MLB). Now it is in the business of promoting bigotry, not fighting it. By rewarding anti-Catholicism, the Dodgers have broken bread with the most despicable elements in American society today.”
While the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence maintain that their work, in addition to its irreverent tone, has a serious commitment to community service, CatholicVote argues that their actions cross the line into offensive and blasphemous territory.
“These are just a few examples of the SPI’s vile and diabolical actions which go far beyond parody or satire – they are blasphemous and deeply offensive to Christians everywhere,” CatholicVote wrote.
The Dodgers’ decision to honor the group is seen by many Catholics as part of an alarming trend of anti-Catholic sentiment. Burch’s statement underlined this concern, saying, “All Americans, especially Catholics, should be deeply concerned that the Dodgers feel comfortable platforming such a grotesque and blatantly anti-Catholic hate group.”
CatholicVote’s condemnation of the Dodgers’ decision has found an echo in the Catholic League. Donohue’s statement argued that by recognizing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Dodgers have “besmirched their legacy of combating bigotry.”
In the midst of this heated debate, the Dodgers have yet to respond to the concerns raised by CatholicVote and the Catholic League.
The choice to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and the subsequent backlash, have thrust the team into a broader conversation about religious respect, free speech, and the role of sports teams in social issues.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact the Dodgers’ reputation and future decisions.