CatholicVote Launches $1M Ad Campaign To Boycott The Dodgers
Nonprofit organization CatholicVote has announced that it will be spending $1 million on an ad campaign to urge a boycott of the Los Angeles Dodgers after the baseball team invited a radical transgender drag queen group, the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” to participate in its Pride Night game on June 16. Despite the Dodgers’ attempts to placate Christians, CatholicVote is not backing down.
The drag queen group is known for mocking Catholics — dressing as demonic-looking nuns and even using a cross as a stripper pole on stage. The Dodgers decided to choose this anti-Catholic group to receive a “Community Heroes Award.”
In response to initial outrage from conservatives and Christians, the Dodgers rescinded the invitation for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — but backlash from the left caused them to re-invite the group. On May 22, Dodgers President Stan Kasten proudly announced that the team was reinviting the drag queens.
CatholicVote president Brian Burch sent a letter to Kasten and the Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter, condemning their decision and expressing concern over the team inviting a hate group.
“I represent the nation’s largest lay Catholic advocacy organization,” the letter reads. “We are supported by millions of devoted Catholics across America who believe that the time-honored values of life, family, and freedom — which the Dodgers used to celebrate — are demonstrably good for America, and worthy of respect, not ridicule.”
“We wrote to you last week with a reasonable ask: Please do not honor this anti-Catholic hate group,” the letter continued. “There is no place for anti-Catholic bigotry, mocking of religious sisters, or celebrating a perverse activist group whose identity is marked by blasphemy and mockery of Catholics.”
Burch also said that he doubts the validity of the Dodgers’ claim that they were “listening to everyone” about the issue.
He went on to announce that CatholicVote is preparing a one-million-dollar ad campaign to promote a boycott of the Dodgers over their decision.
“Prior to the launch of this campaign, we are requesting yet another opportunity to speak by telephone or to meet in person with an appropriate representative so that you can better understand the extraordinary harm and hurt your decision has engendered,” Burch wrote.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) also sent a letter to the team blasting their decision.
“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?” he wrote.
Catholics have no choice but to boycott the Dodgers, according to Catholic Bishop Robert Barron, who argued that the team is “clearly not responding to a decent appeal to reason.”
The Dodgers are apparently trying to do damage control. While they refuse to disinvite the anti-Catholic group, they have announced a Christian-themed celebration.
“Join us at Dodger Stadium on 7/30 for Christian Faith and Family Day. Stay after the game to celebrate and be part of a day of worship. Stay tuned for more details,” the team tweeted.
Burch responded to this event in a statement posted to CatholicVote’s Twitter.
“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 statement read. “Creating a ‘faith and family’ event does not balance the decision to honor a perverted, fake ‘nun’ group that exists to mock the Catholic religion. In many ways, it emphasizes the contrast, and makes our case even stronger. It’s hard to interpret this announcement as anything other than a public relations stunt intended to blunt the widespread national backlash that is only growing stronger. The Dodgers have one path forward: apologize and stop honoring hateful anti-Catholic organizations.”
