The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is an anti-Catholic hate group, made up of drag queens whose specialty is blasphemy and sacrilege. When it was announced that the “Sisters” were to be honored by the Los Angeles Dodgers during their annual “Pride Night” on June 16, there was an understandable backlash from Catholics and other offended fans. This led the Dodgers initially to rescind their invitation to the group, only to reinstate it a few days later in response to pressure from the “Sisters’” supporters.
Catholic organizations like the Catholic League and the Catholic Daughters of America countered by mounting a spirited public relations campaign, urging fans (especially Catholic fans) to boycott this particular game. Their efforts, thankfully, were at least somewhat successful. Attendance was noticeably down on June 16, and when the “Sisters” received their award, the stands were nearly empty. Many of those who did happen to be present for the event booed.
It has been said that anti-Catholicism is the last “respectable prejudice” left in America. The events of this year’s Dodgers’ Pride Night certainly lend credence to that assertion. In the face of such animosity and bigotry, Catholics have the right to insist that they and their beliefs be respected in the same way that other groups and their beliefs are. Kudos to the Catholic League and the Catholic Daughters of America for making that clear to the management of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hopefully their example will inspire other Catholics to do the same in responding to similar incidents of anti-Catholic bigotry in the future.
