By giving an award to the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” the Los Angeles Dodgers have declared to the whole world that Dodger Stadium, once a venue for America’s Pastime, is now a stage for blasphemy against Almighty God.
Either the execs in Dodger management don’t know what blasphemy is or they don’t care. I invite them to call Catholic Answers. We can explain sins against the First Commandment. We can explain the consequences, too.
I don’t think I’ll wait by the phone for that call.
Meanwhile, I invite all Catholics, and indeed all Christians, to ask themselves, “If I attend a Dodgers game, if I give my dollars to the blasphemers, am I cooperating in blasphemy?”
The answer is “yes.”
I know that theologians who are anxious about not burdening the consciences of the faithful will rush to make distinctions between formal and material cooperation, immediate and mediate, proximate and remote. Very well. I know that baseball fans are not intending to cooperate in blasphemy when they head to the ballpark. I know that the dollars they spend on bleacher seats are not essential to the funding of the blasphemy. I also know that it is well-nigh impossible to spend a dollar anywhere without some of it funding the destructive plan of some agent of devil.
However, when the offenders are so aggressive in their contravening of the Divine and Natural Law, (I think of Starbucks, Disney, Target, Anheuser-Busch and now the Dodgers execs)—Christians can decide to simply stop enriching the enemies of Jesus Christ. Don’t stop there. Encourage one another in refraining from underwriting evil. Offer a little fraternal correction to your brothers and sisters in Christ who can’t let go of that latte. Remind them they won’t be holding it at their judgment.
One thing more: I wish no ill on the multinational corporations mired in the consequences of their self-inflicted wounds (Target stock has shed $9 billion, I’m told). In fact, I invite them to renounce their promotion of wickedness and to undergird their resolution with a large donation to a worthy Catholic charity. Target, send a check to Courage International. Dodgers Management, send a check to the Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles.
Attach a yellow Post-It note asking them to pray for your immortal souls.