The Los Angeles Dodgers will honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag group that makes a mockery of Christians and Jesus’ crucifixion, as heroes of their community. According to CBN News, the hate-centered group will take to the field at Dodger Stadium where they will be honored for their efforts to offend Christians and make a mockery of Jesus Christ. The event will take place on the stadium’s “Pride” Night, which also falls on the day Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart. While some apparently find the hateful group to be heroic, others have different expectations of what it means to be a hero.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) denounced the Dodgers’ decision to honor the group, calling it “blasphemy.” The Bishops pointed out that June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and a baseball team has chosen to embrace a group that makes a mockery of Christ. The Bishops stated, “during this time, we call to mind Christ’s love for us, which is visible in a special way in the image of His pierced heart, and we pray that our own hearts might be conformed to His, calling us to love and respect all His people.”
Trevor Williams, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, tweeted a clear message defending Christians and called out the Dodgers for not being the inclusive organization they think they are having attacked and alienated a particular group of people. Williams wrote, “to invite and honor a group that makes a blatant and deeply offensive mockery of my religion, and the religion of over 4 million people in Los Angeles county alone, undermines the values of respect and inclusivity that should be upheld by any organization. Creating an environment in which one group feels celebrated and honored at the expense of another is counterproductive and wrong.”
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw pointed out on Twitter that “inviting the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to perform disenfranchised a large community and promotes hate of Christians and people of faith.” Although outraged, Kershaw suggested moving forward with a day that celebrates Jesus Christ. Bringing back Christian Faith Day would allow Christians on the team to show what they do support and believe in, which can make a positive impact.
This is not the first honor the hateful group has received. The performers were also honored by the California state Legislature on behalf of Democrats. When “Sister Roma” was introduced, California Republicans walked out of the Capitol in protest and held a prayer vigil, reminding all that turning to prayer is a powerful way of moving forward. While the LA Dodgers make a mockery of Christians on their field on June 16, the prayers said by Christians will send a more powerful message.