Senator Marco Rubio's Reclaim America PAC encountered a roadblock when their television advertisement, denouncing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an anti-Catholic drag group, was rejected for broadcast during a Los Angeles Dodgers game. The advertisement was intended to air during the Dodgers' Pride Night game against the San Francisco Giants on Spectrum SportsNet LA, the same game where the controversial group was scheduled to receive the team's "Community Hero Award."
The ad's rejection follows a month of intense debate surrounding the Dodgers' decision to first rescind, then reinstate, the invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. This reversal sparked widespread criticism, with Rubio accusing the Dodgers, Major League Baseball, and the media of promoting intolerance and hatred of Christianity.
Rubio's advertisement directly addressed the Sisters' provocative performances, including their use of religious imagery in a disrespectful manner. The ad labeled the group an "anti-Catholic hate group" and condemned the Dodgers for celebrating bigotry under the guise of pride.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence describe themselves as a group of "queer and trans nuns" who raise funds for LGBTQ+ causes. They claim to use humor and satire to combat bigotry and prejudice. Following the initial controversy, the group met with Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten and accepted the team's apology for briefly rescinding their invitation.
However, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly condemned the Dodgers' decision, calling it "blasphemy" and urging Catholics to pray in reparation for what they perceived as an affront to their faith. The MLB and Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum SportsNet LA, did not respond to requests for comment on the ad's rejection.
