Catholic group launches $1M campaign calling for a boycott of the LA Dodgers

One of the largest Catholic organizations, CatholicVote, has issued a letter to the Los Angeles Dodgers announcing an ad campaign calling for a boycott of the team. 

CatholicVote President Brian Burch sent the letter to Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter and CEO Stan Kasten.

"I represent the nation’s largest lay Catholic advocacy organization," Burch wrote according to Fox News. "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."

CatholicVote also said that they have a $1 million advertising budget to encourage fellow Catholics to boycott the team. 

Earlier this month, the LA Dodgers announced that they would be honoring a drag group on Pride Night that goes by the name of "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence," a group of "queer and trans nuns" with a history of anti-Catholic messaging. 

After backlash from Catholic groups and the public occurred, the team said they would not be honoring them. 

The Dodgers then walked back their decision the next day after the group, LA Pride, said they would no longer participate in Pride Night as a result of the Dodgers' decision against honoring the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence." At this point, Pride Night is still on for June 16.

"After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within 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 of Perpetual Indulgence, members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends and families," the organization said in a statement.

Before launching their $1 million campaign against the Dodgers, Burch is seeking a meeting with a representative of the team, in essence to give them a chance to reconsider.

"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," wrote Burch.