A Major League Baseball pitcher spoke out Thursday against the Dodgers for inviting an anti-Catholic organization to participate in its "Pride Night" festivities.
"As a devout Catholic, I am deeply troubled by the Dodgers' decision to re-invite and honor the group 'The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence' at their Pride Night this year," said Trevor Williams, pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Williams made the statement amid the Nationals' series against the Dodgers, and the day after he pitched in Monday's game. The Dodgers have faced backlash for weeks over the team's decision to honor the group, which uses religious imagery and drag to mock "sexual intolerance" in religion.
The Dodgers originally uninvited the group from its Pride Night, but after facing LGBT and leftist backlash, reissued its invitation.
Williams noted that baseball games are supposed to be a setting where everyone feels welcome and inviting a group that "makes a blatant and deeply offensive mockery" of the Catholic faith runs contrary to that aim. He said more than four million Catholics live in the Los Angeles area.
"I believe it is essential for the Dodgers to reconsider their association with this group and strive to create an inclusive environment that does not demean or disrespect the religious beliefs of any fan or employee," Williams said.
The statement comes after Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw advocated for his team to relaunch its day honoring the Christian faith, which it has held in years past, in response to the backlash.
"I think we were always going to do Christian Faith Day this year, but I think the timing of our announcement was sped up," Kershaw said. "Picking a date and doing those different things was part of it as well. Yes, it was in response to the highlighting of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence."
Catholic-advocacy group CatholicVote called Kershaw's comments a "band-aid."
"The Dodgers' announcement today is the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound and in no way diminishes the harm and hurt caused by their plan to honor a vile anti-Catholic organization," the group said.
Former Biden administration official Sam Brinton, who has faced charges for stealing luggage at airports, held a leadership role in the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.