Sr. Jeannine Gramick to L.A. Dodgers: “I Support Your Honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.”
Sr. Jeannine Gramick, SL, co-founder of New Ways Ministry
Earlier this week, Bondings 2.0 reported on a controversy involving the Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to invite, disinvite, and then re-invite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to receive a service award at the team’s Pride Night in June. The incident began following anti-LGBTQ+ Catholics’ criticism of the Dodgers’ decision to honor the charitable group known for their drag depictions of Catholic sisters. You can read a full report about the controversy here.
The following is a letter from Sr. Jeannine Gramick, SL, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
Dear friends,
I am aware of the controversy regarding the L.A. Dodgers and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
I am a member of the Sisters of Loretto, a Roman Catholic congregation of women religious, have been a Catholic nun for more than 60 years, and ministered to and with the LGBTQ Catholic community for more than 50 years.
A Sister of Perpetual Indulgence wearing an L.A. Dodgers jersey
While I am uncomfortable with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence using the nuns’ old garb to draw attention to bigotry, whether Catholic or not, there is a hierarchy of values in this situation. The choice of clothing, even if offensive to some, can never trump the works of mercy.
Just as I have great respect for Catholic nuns because of their compassion and good works over the centuries, I applaud the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for their financial assistance to those in need. I support them because of all their good works. I believe that any group that serves the community, especially those who are less fortunate or on the margins of society, should be honored.
I support your honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
Peace,
Sr. Jeannine Gramick, SL, May 27, 2023
Sr. Jeannine Gramick has hit a grand slam with her assessment of the matter!
I am in total agreement with Jeaninne. Dress is but a minor detail in the scheme of things. I have walked in the past in Pride alongside of some sisters of perpetual indulgence and we tried to show that acceptance and collaboration were the values to be honored.
thank you Sister Jeannine for your calm and very wise words. the Sisters of Loretto always intelligent in their presence and support
Once again, we are lead by a woman of faith. Jesus refused no one at any time.
Sr. Jeannine is called by name. Love and peace.
Thank you Sr. Jeannine for your consistent and continuing courageous openness, inclusivity and advocacy
A beautiful counterpoint to the Catholic League’s William Donahue’s letter that falsely and with mean spirit compared the SPI to a bunch of white boys doing “black face.” Thank you Sr. Jeannine.
Very well said.
Well said Sr. Jeannine!
John M. Lee, C.P.
No problem with their garb. It’s the shows they put on at Easter where cross is used like a pole and man hanging from crucifix with other man on him. It’s insulting to Christ and what he went thru the day he died
Thanks, Sister Jeannine, for getting us to the heart of the matter. Being a Kentuckian, I’ve had the gift of learning firsthand to trust the wisdom of the Sisters of Loretto, a blessing to us all.
I am saddened and disappointed that so many including Sr. Jeannine find the “sisters of perpetual indulgence” (SPI) acceptable. As a Lesbian Catholic woman I am offended by the blasphemous and sacrilegious events that SPI puts on which include a male stripper gyrating around a mock crucified Jesus on the cross, mocking the sacrifice of the mass by using a condom as a host and too many atrocities to mention. Let’s face it, SPI is a LGBT group that is blatantly anti-Catholic.
I am equally appalled of spi being so blatantly blasphemous. What’s even worse, are the so-called Catholics who support them! I don’t care what “good works “ they have done. Their sacrilegiousness outweighs any good they might have done. Go ahead and sin some more is appropriate for them and anyone who supports them.
I met Sister Jeannie Gramick in 1974 in Baltimore. Loved her then and have a great deal of respect for her.