The Los Angeles Dodgers have encountered criticism following their decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a controversial group known for satirizing Catholicism, during their upcoming Pride Night event on June 16th. In a notable response to this decision, veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw announced the revival of the Christian Faith and Family Day, an event absent from the Dodgers’ events scheduling since 2019.
The controversy arose from the Dodgers’ initial decision to exclude the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from their Pride Night event, only to later reinstate the group and extend an apology. Consequently, the Dodgers have invited the group to join them on the field at their 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night.
Clayton Kershaw, who has previously expressed his disagreement with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s practice of mocking religion, stated his discomfort at seeing the group’s portrayal of Christianity. His proposal to bring back the Christian Faith and Family Day was a move aimed at counteracting what he sees as disrespectful representation of religious faiths, rather than outright condemnation of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
The Dodgers team, including Kershaw, engaged in discussion on how to appropriately respond to a group that makes light of a religion with which they do not align. Their decision was to demonstrate their support for their own faith by reviving the Christian Faith Day as a counter-statement, rather than explicitly criticizing the Sisters.
Kershaw clarified that his problem lies specifically with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, rather than the Pride Night event, which he does not intend to boycott. Kershaw, as a devout Christian, stressed the importance of showing love and respect to all, regardless of their beliefs, and to participate in a diverse range of activities and settings.
