LA Dodgers backdown after backlash, cancel Pride Night invite to ‘anti-Catholic’ trans nun group

In an encouraging sign that professional sports teams are still responsive to public anger over transgressions against common decency, the Los Angeles Dodgers have withdrawn the invitation that was extended to a group of transgender activists whose “blasphemous” insults against the Catholic faith sparked a major backlash.

The storied Major League Baseball franchise’s plans to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group of “queer and trans nuns” with a “Community Hero Award” at an upcoming home game at Dodgers Stadium drew an outraged reaction from Catholic groups as well as a U.S. senator who accused the team of providing a forum for anti-Catholic bigotry, forcing the organization to backtrack by acknowledging that it had made a mistake.

In a statement posted to social media, the Dodgers said that while they are “proud” to host the annual Pride Night celebration of homosexuality and transgender sexual deviance as a traditional salute to diversity, the inclusion of the group which has been accused of blaspheming Catholicism with its “obscene” ceremonies and nicknames was offensive to many and therefore would not be appearing as previously scheduled.

“This year, as part of a full night of programming, we invited a number of groups to join us. We are now aware that our inclusion of one group in particular — The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — in this year’s Pride Night has been the source of some controversy,” the Dodgers said in the Wednesday statement.”

“Given the strong feelings of people who have been offended by the sisters’ inclusion in our evening, and in an effort not to distract from the great benefits that we have seen over the years of Pride Night, we are deciding to remove them from this year’s group of honorees,” the statement read.

(Video: YouTube/KCAL)

The news that the group would be honored before the upcoming June 16th Pride Night game at Chavez Ravine against the hated in-state rival San Francisco Giants drew an angry response from many, including Republican Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) who penned a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred pointing out the group’s mocking and degradation of Christians, especially Catholics and asking whether he found it to be acceptable.

“Do you believe that the Los Angeles Dodgers are being ‘inclusive and welcoming to everyone’ by giving an award to a group of gay and transgender drag performers that intentionally mocks and degrades Christians—and not only Christians, but nuns, who devote their lives to serving others? Do you believe such an award is ‘apolitical’?” Rubio wrote in his letter to the commish. “Do you believe it is a sound business decision, in a city with more than four million Catholics and countless other people of faith? Finally, setting aside financial considerations, do you believe it is morally right for the most important league of our national pastime to honor a group that mocks religion, and one religion in particular?”

Also condemning the Dodgers was Catholic League president Bill Donohue who recalled the team’s historic breakthrough that opened the door for black players in Major League Baseball.

“In 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers made history by naming Jackie Robinson to its roster. He was the first black man to play Major League Baseball (MLB). Now it is in the business of promoting bigotry, not fighting it. By rewarding anti-Catholicism, the Dodgers have broken bread with the most despicable elements in American society today,” Donohue said.

“These homosexual bigots are known for simulating sodomy while dressed as nuns. They like to feature a ‘Condom Savior Mass,’ one that describes how the ‘Latex Host is the flesh for the life of the world.’ The ‘Sisters’ go by names such as ‘Sister Homo Fellatio’ and ‘Sister Joyous Reserectum.’ Just last month, they held an event mocking Our Blessed Mother and Jesus on Easter Sunday,” he said in a statement posted to the organization’s website.

He added, “I am writing to Rob Manfred, commissioner of MLB, about this unprovoked assault on Catholics. In his letter to Manfred, Senator Marco Rubio asked, ‘why are you allowing an MLB team to honor a group that mocks Christians through diabolical parodies of our faith.’ In my letter, I said that if a group of white boys in black face—a modern day Al Jolson ensemble—were to be honored by an MLB team, there is little doubt that the event would be cancelled and sanctions would be forthcoming

Another Catholic organization, the political activist group CatholicVote which had also expressed outrage, praised the team for rectifying its unforced error.

“We are pleased that the Dodgers reconsidered their decision to honor an anti-Catholic hate group known for their gross mockery of Catholic nuns,” the organization’s president Brian Burch said in a statement, as reported by Fox News.”While we continue to wonder how such a group was selected in the first place, this incident should serve as a wake-up call for all religious believers: unchecked woke corporations have no qualms about exploiting people of faith.”

“For once, common sense prevailed in California,” Senator  Rubio tweeted on Wednesday after the team’s announcement.

There will be the inevitable booing and hissing from leftists who will accuse the Dodgers of caving to right-wingers and homophobic bigots but forcing the team to reconsider is a big win in one small battle of the larger left-wing culture war on Western civilization.

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Chris Donaldson

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