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

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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