Last updated on June 20th, 2023 at 06:54 am
Presidential candidate Senator Tim Scott criticized the Los Angeles Dodgers for planning to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag group known for satirizing Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, at their Pride Night event. He conveyed his strong disappointment and disgust at this move in a phone interview with The Daily Signal. The Dodgers had previously announced that they would grant the group a “Community Hero Award” in recognition of their community service and promotion of human rights, diversity, and spiritual enlightenment.
This decision faced severe backlash from various quarters, especially as the “Sisters” are known for controversial acts that many Christians and Catholics view as blasphemous. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, documented various instances of this group’s anti-Catholic behavior. This includes a staged event involving the burning of a pope effigy, a show with a sexualized Jesus figure, and the group’s pro-choice stance.
In response to the mounting criticism, led by figures such as Senator Marco Rubio, the Dodgers initially rescinded their invitation to the group. However, they later reversed this decision, apologizing to the “Sisters” and reinstating their invitation for the June 16 event. The Dodgers pledged to collaborate with their LGBTQ+ partners to enhance their understanding and foster unity within the diverse Dodgers family.
Dodgers’ pitcher Clayton Kershaw expressed his disapproval of the team’s decision in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, underscoring his respect for religious beliefs and the importance of not ridiculing others’ faiths. Senator Scott, an evangelical Christian, applauded Kershaw’s stance, expressing his firm belief that no one should be encouraged to belittle others’ religious faith.
Senator Scott also noted the disparity in the acceptance of mockery directed towards different religions, stating that similar treatment of the Muslim faith would not be tolerated in the US. He firmly rejected any notion of trivializing the Christian faith and emphasized the unacceptable nature of disrespecting Christian values in America.