


The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Friday that they will be hosting a "Christian Faith and Family Day," days after the team re-invited a group of self-described "queer and trans nuns" to their annual Pride Night.
The team offered few details about the "Christian Faith and Family Day" other than it will occur on July 30. The event was announced by Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who has been outspoken about his Christian faith throughout his career. The team had previously held Christian-themed days prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
FOOD STAMPS: WHY SNAP BENEFIT PAYMENTS COULD BE AMONG FIRST CASUALTIES OF DEBT CEILING CRISIS
"Excited to announce the relaunch of Christian Faith and Family Day at Dodger Stadium on July 30th," Kershaw tweeted. "More details to come— but we are grateful for the opportunity to talk about Jesus and determined to make it bigger and better than it was before COVID. Hope to see you on July 30th!"
The official Dodgers account responded to Kershaw's tweet, encouraging those who will attend the game to stay after and "celebrate and be part of a day of worship."
Join us at Dodger Stadium on 7/30 for Christian Faith and Family Day. Stay after the game to celebrate and be part of a day of worship. Stay tuned for more details. https://t.co/g9QWEYl5FE
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 26, 2023
The Dodgers have been mired in controversy ever since it was revealed that the team planned to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a gay performance group, at their annual Pride Night.
The group's invitation to the game was condemned by Catholics and Christians, who noted that the self-professed "queer and trans nuns" engaged in displays that included a pole dancing routine on a cross. The group's motto is "Go and sin some more."
The Dodgers originally disinvited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from its June 16 Pride Night festivities after several Catholic groups and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) expressed concerns about the team honoring a group that they said uses overt anti-Catholic imagery. The canceled invitation prompted a wave of criticism of the team. Earlier this week, the team announced it had reinvited the group.
The reinvitation to a group that has been described as anti-Catholic and anti-Christian has prompted prominent Christians to urge a boycott of the team. The Dodger's announcement of the "Christian Faith and Family Day" was met with a frosty reception from prominent Catholics who said the gesture was insufficient.
"Not enough, Dodgers. If you really want to reach out to Christians, don’t celebrate anti-Christian hate groups," tweeted Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota.
Not enough, @Dodgers. If you really want to reach out to Christians, don’t celebrate anti-Christian hate groups. https://t.co/Ne7RNWr2DF
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) May 26, 2023
The Rev. Matthew Schneider, a Catholic priest with a large Twitter following, likewise said "Do you know how to really have a 'Christian Faith and Family Day'? Don't invite an anti-Catholic group that has performed lewd acts in public spaces where kids might be present."
Do you know how to really have a "Christian Faith and Family Day"?
— Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC (@FrMatthewLC) May 26, 2023
Don't invite an anti-Catholic group that has performed lewd acts in public spaces where kids might be present. https://t.co/Rwe6MkrU75
Brian Burch, the president of the political advocacy organization CatholicVote, said the Dodgers announcement was "the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound" that did nothing to address the harms caused by the team's decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
"Creating a 'faith and family' event does not balance the decision to honor a perverted, fake 'nun' group that exists to mock the Catholic religion. In many ways, it emphasizes the contrast and makes our case even stronger," Burch said. "It's hard to interpret this announcement as anything other than a public relations stunt intended to blunt the widespread national backlash that is only growing stronger. The Dodgers have one path forward: apologize and stop honoring hateful anti-Catholic organizations."
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
CatholicVote announced Friday that it is launching a $1 million ad campaign to urge people to boycott the Dodgers, according to Fox News.
"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 told the Dodgers in a letter.