Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota has called for a boycott of the Los Angeles Dodgers after the team caved to pressure from left-wing activists and opted to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drag group at the team’s Pride Night on June 16.
The team had initially excluded the group from its Pride Night festivities over objections from Catholics and other Christian groups. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence dress as Catholic nuns and commit sexualized mockeries of icons of the faith, including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
After backlash from left-wing and pro-LGBT groups, the Dodgers backtracked on their initial position and opted to not only include, but honor the group during the team’s upcoming Pride Night.
“After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and generous discussions with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Los Angeles Dodgers would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the [Sisters], members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends and families,” the team said in a statement, adding that the group has “agreed to receive the gratitude of our collective of our collective communities for the lifesaving work that they have done tirelessly for decades.”
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 22, 2023
In a video statement Thursday, Bishop Barron called on Catholics and other Christian denominations to boycott the team. “Ya know the Dodgers invited this group which I think can only be described as an anti-Catholic hate group,” Barron said.
He then referenced an Easter Sunday display that mocked the crucifixion. The display featured a drag performer doing a “pole dance” on the cross, Barron said. “For Catholics, it’s hard to imagine anything more offensive than that.”
The Bishop then pointed out that similar displays denigrating the Islamic or Jewish faiths would be met with outrage and consequences. “What would the reaction be?” Barron asked rhetorically. “You know, those questions answer themselves. But somehow, attacking Catholics in this most disgraceful way is okay. Not only okay, it should be honored.”
He then called on Catholics in the Los Angeles area and fans of the team to abstain from supporting the team. “Look, I was auxiliary bishop for six years in L.A., I threw out the first pitch at a Dodgers game a few years ago. But I’d encourage my friends back there to boycott the Dodgers.”
“Why are we tolerating this? We shouldn’t be tolerating it.”
Friends, it’s hard to imagine anything more offensive than some of the behavior of the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” which I think can only be described as an anti-Catholic hate group. pic.twitter.com/VLZP28Soab
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) May 25, 2023