Dodgers Pitcher Clayton Kershaw denounced the LA Dodgers’ decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (SPI) on “Pride Night.” 

“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.”

The LA team has received backlash for its decision to reinvite and honor SPI, a group of men who mock the Catholic Church by dressing up as nuns and engaging in public acts of sacrilege.

Under intense backlash after reinviting SPI, the Dodgers quickly issued another announcement: They would host a “Christian Faith and Family Day” again for the first time since 2019. 

Critics were unimpressed, with many arguing it was a cynical attempt at damage control. 

“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,” said CatholicVote President Brian Burch in response:

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.

Kershaw’s comments on the Dodgers’ Faith Day announcement will likely be seen as a vindication of Burch’s skepticism.

“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. “Yes, it was in response to the highlighting of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence….”

For his part, however, Kershaw sees a silver lining in the upcoming faith event. He said he consulted with his wife and others before the Dodgers ran with the idea. 

“For us, 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,” Kershaw said. “And that was Jesus. So to make Christian Faith Day our response is what we felt like was the best decision.”

Kershaw said he does not plan to boycott Pride Night, arguing that his issue is with SPI and not the Dodgers.

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