LOGIN

Nun Praises Dodgers’ Response to Pride Night Controversy, Amid Accusations of Blasphemy by Archbishops

by Lucas Garcia
5 comments
Pride Night controversy

The Dodgers’ performance is not the only thing causing a stir among religious communities, including significant faith figures, Catholic nuns, and the team’s All-Star player. Top-ranking Catholic leaders in the U.S. have alleged that the team committed blasphemy this week.

The Dodgers have organized Pride Nights for a decade, but this year’s event — set for Friday night — was embroiled in a controversy that arose last month.

Following significant backlash from conservative Catholics, the team withdrew an invitation to a satirical LGBTQ+ group known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, planned to be recognized at Pride Night. The Sisters’ performers, primarily men who flamboyantly dress as nuns, are engaged in protests and charitable activities.

However, following a strong response from LGBTQ+ groups and their allies, the Dodgers reversed their decision, reinstating the Sisters’ Los Angeles chapter’s invitation to be acknowledged for their philanthropic efforts and expressing their apologies to the LGBTQ+ community.

This move by the Dodgers received positive reactions from LGBTQ+ allies, including certain Catholic nuns, but was met with severe criticism from conservative Catholics, even those in top-ranking positions within the U.S. religious hierarchy.

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ president, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services, vehemently criticized the team in a statement on Monday.

They urged Catholics to pray on Friday “in atonement for the blasphemies against our Lord visible in today’s culture.” They stressed the offense taken by Christians worldwide due to the mocking of sacred figures by a group being honored by a professional baseball team, labeling it as blasphemy.

Despite the Catholic Church’s official teachings opposing same-sex marriage and same-sex sexual activities, there is a sizable group of Catholics advocating for greater inclusivity towards the LGBTQ+ community within the church. These include American nuns who have empathetically ministered to LGBTQ+ Catholics and have paid attention to the recent activities of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Sister Jeannine Gramick, who has ministered to LGBTQ+ Catholics for over half a century and is the co-founder of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for them, welcomed the Dodgers’ decision to re-invite the group, recognizing their charity work.

However, Sister Luisa Derouen, who is renowned for her work with transgender Catholics, expressed her deep disappointment with the Dodgers’ decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Despite the criticism, many supporters continue to back the Dodgers and Pride Nights in general, seeing them as significant for combating prejudice and promoting acceptance and mental health, especially among children and teenagers.

Nevertheless, the Dodgers’ situation with Pride Night is reflective of wider LGBTQ+ related challenges faced by other big-name companies. Despite this, spokesperson for the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign, Laurel Powell, said the increasing number of Pride Nights and similar initiatives across different industries is uplifting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dodgers’ Pride Night Controversy

What event has caused controversy among religious figures?

The Dodgers’ decision to hold a Pride Night, particularly their invitation to a satirical LGBTQ+ group known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, has caused significant controversy among religious figures, including high-ranking Catholic leaders.

Who are the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence?

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is a satirical LGBTQ+ group composed primarily of men who flamboyantly dress as nuns. They are active in protests and charitable programs. The Dodgers’ initial decision to honor this group at Pride Night and their subsequent reversal caused a controversy.

What did top-ranking U.S. Catholic leaders say about the event?

Three high-ranking U.S. Catholic leaders, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, and the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services, claimed that the Dodgers had committed blasphemy by honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at their Pride Night.

Who are some of the Catholic figures who have responded positively to the Dodgers’ actions?

One of the figures who responded positively to the Dodgers’ actions is Sister Jeannine Gramick, who has ministered to LGBTQ+ Catholics for over 50 years and is the co-founder of New Ways Ministry, which advocates on their behalf. She welcomed the Dodgers’ decision to re-invite the drag group and recognized their charity work.

What is the official stance of the Catholic Church on same-sex relationships and marriage?

As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the Catholic Church officially opposes same-sex marriage and same-sex sexual activity. However, there are many Catholics, including some religious leaders, who advocate for the Church to be more inclusive towards the LGBTQ+ community.

You may also like

5 comments

TradCath73 June 17, 2023 - 12:29 am

i respect everyone’s rights, but this feels like a mockery of my faith. Wished they could do their good work without the nun costume.

Reply
LisaProud June 17, 2023 - 1:40 am

So proud of Dodgers for standing up for the community, it takes courage to do whats right. This is about inclusion and charity, not about disrespect.

Reply
JohnJustice June 17, 2023 - 8:39 am

Everyone seems to forget, this is about a charity doing good work. The outfits are theatrical yes, but the cause is what matters.

Reply
Mike47 June 17, 2023 - 5:57 pm

Man, this is such a hot button issue…Can’t we just enjoy baseball without all this controversy?

Reply
StarAceFan June 17, 2023 - 6:29 pm

Kershaw has a point. Its not about the LGBTQ+ community, its about a group making fun of a religion. That’s where I have a problem.

Reply

Leave a Comment

BNB – Big Big News is a news portal that offers the latest news from around the world. BNB – Big Big News focuses on providing readers with the most up-to-date information from the U.S. and abroad, covering a wide range of topics, including politics, sports, entertainment, business, health, and more.

Editors' Picks

Latest News