Several thousand protesters have gathered outside Dodger Stadium on Friday to voice their opposition to the team’s decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on their Pride Night. The religious organization, Catholics for Catholics, has organized the protest to express their feelings on the matter.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are known for their charity work, which involves queer nuns in drag. They are slated to receive the Community Hero Award during a pregame ceremony as part of the Pride Night festivities. However, the Catholics for Catholics group has called them “Godless” and “Christ-mocking.”
The protesters have gathered ahead of Friday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, and have planned a “prayerful procession” from 3 to 7 p.m. The procession is expected to be peaceful, and attendees have been urged to gather at Parking Lot 13 outside Dodger Stadium. Limited free parking is available for attendees.
Catholics for Catholics expect “thousands of Catholics, Christians, and people of faith” to be on hand for the procession. However, the group has cautioned against bringing children, as they anticipate hostility from protesters. Attendees have been encouraged to bring posters to the protest, but have messages be Christ-centered.
The Dodgers initially disinvited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to “Pride Night” when Catholics protested their involvement. However, they reinvited them when gay rights organizations threatened to pull out of the event.
The protest is the latest marker on what’s become a public relations nightmare for the Dodgers. On Monday, the team was slammed in a statement from three archbishops, who called the decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence “blasphemy.”
Despite the planned protests, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have said that they will still appear at the game to accept the award and cheer on the Dodgers. They have stated that they are taking every precaution for their safety, as are the Dodgers, the LAPD and the FBI.
In a city that is known for its diversity and acceptance, the protest outside Dodger Stadium on Pride Night is a reminder that some still hold strong religious beliefs and that these beliefs can clash with the celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
References
- https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-05-25/the-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-are-on-a-mission-to-spread-universal-joy-despite-the-dodgers-dr
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