MLB pitcher Trevor Williams, a devout Catholic, condemned the Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to re-invite a group that routinely desecrates symbols of the Catholic faith to its Pride Night promotion this June.
“To invite and honor a group that makes a blatant and deeply offensive mockery of my religion, and the religion of over 4 million people in LA county alone, undermines the values of respect and inclusivity that should be upheld by any organization,” Williams wrote in a statement Tuesday.
The team had initially excluded the group from its Pride Night festivities over objections from Catholics and other Christian groups. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are known for dressing as Catholic nuns and committing sexualized mockeries of icons of the faith, including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
This is the group the @Dodgers are giving a "community heroes" award to. The sisters of perpetual indulgence @SFSisters are an anti-Christian hate group and an adult sex act. Lots of baseball players follow me. Are any of you going to speak up or will you allow Jesus to be spit… pic.twitter.com/sqrKqSexRh
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) May 24, 2023
After backlash from left-wing and pro-LGBT groups, the Dodgers backtracked on their initial position and opted to not only include but honor the group during the team’s upcoming Pride Night.
“After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and generous discussions with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Los Angeles Dodgers would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the [Sisters], members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends and families,” the team said in a statement, adding that the group has “agreed to receive the gratitude of our collective of our collective communities for the lifesaving work that they have done tirelessly for decades.”
On Tuesday, Williams took to Twitter and urged the Dodgers to reconsider their decision, adding that Catholics who support the organization should reconsider doing so if the team refuses to reverse course. “As a devout Catholic, I am deeply troubled by the Dodgers’ decision to reinvite the ‘Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’ at their Pride Night this year.
Williams, who currently plays for the Washington Nationals, added that Major League Baseball games are a “place where people from all walks of life should feel welcomed, something I strongly respect and support.”
“To invite and honor a group that makes a blatant and deeply offensive mockery of my religion, and the religion of over 4 million people in LA county alone, undermines the values of respect and inclusivity that should be upheld by any organization,” Williams went on to say.
“Creating an environment where one group feels celebrated and honored at the expense of another is counterproductive and wrong,” the statement continued. “It is a clear violation of the Dodgers’ discrimination policy, which explicitly states that any conduct or attire at the ballpark that is deemed to be indecent or prejudiced against any particular group (or religion) is not tolerated.”
— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) May 30, 2023
Williams accused the Dodgers of violating their own policy by “doubling down” by celebrating the group that “grossly disrespects and openly mocks many of the beliefs and traditions that Catholics hold most dear.”
He then urged the Dodgers to reconsider their position, adding that Catholic Dodgers fans should reconsider their support for the team if they stand by their decision.
“I know I am not alone in my frustration, hurt, and disappointment about this situation,” Williams wrote. “As Catholics, we look to Jesus Christ and the way he was treated and we realize that any suffering in this world unites us to him in the next.”
