Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams denounced the decision by the Los Angeles Dodgers to reinvite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to attend the team’s Pride Night game in June.
On Tuesday, Williams, who is Catholic, issued a statement saying he was “deeply troubled” by the Dodgers reversal that will now honor the group of self-described “queer and trans nuns” on June 16.
“A Major League Baseball game is a place where people from all walks of life should feel welcomed, something I greatly respect and support,” Williams said in a statement on Twitter. “This is the purpose of different themed nights hosted by the organization, including Pride Night.”
“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 Los Angeles county alone, undermines the values of respect and inclusivity that should be upheld by any organization,” he added.
The team originally disinvited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from its Pride Night festivities following several Catholic groups’ and Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) criticism concerning the group’s overt anti-Catholic imagery.
“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 added. “I also encourage my fellow Catholics to reconsider their support of an organization that allows this type of mockery of its fans to occur.”
Williams joins Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw in expressing disapproval of his team’s decision.
“I don’t agree with making fun of other people’s religions,” Kershaw said. “It has nothing to do with anything other than that. I just don’t think that, no matter what religion you are, you should make fun of somebody else’s religion. So that’s something that I definitely don’t agree with.”
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“For us,” Kershaw added, referencing his and his wife’s response, “we felt like the best thing to do in response was, instead of maybe making a statement condemning or anything like that, would be just to instead try to show what we do support, as opposed to maybe what we don’t, and that was Jesus. So, to make Christian Faith Day our response is what we felt like was the best decision.”
As a result, Kershaw announced the Dodgers’ Christian Faith and Family Day relaunch, which is scheduled for July 30.
