Last week, the Atlanta Braves became the first team in major league baseball to sponsor a post-game Christian evangelizing event called “Faith Day.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution provided details:
The blend of big-tent evangelism and the national pastime is expected to draw thousands of new eyes. … [The event is] designed to reach out to people looking for a spiritual purpose in life. Faith Day is the first promotion of “intentional Christian ministry” in Major League Baseball.
Except the Faith Day festivities didn’t offer a “big tent.” The event was cosponsored by right-wing group Focus on the Family, which, according to their press release, used the event to distribute promotional materials about a website they run called TroubledWith.com, which features virulently anti-gay content:
Male homosexuality is a developmental problem that is almost always the result of problems in family relations, particularly between father and son. [Link]
The following factors can also contribute to the homosexual orientation: pornography; spousal abuse in the home; molestation and pedophilia… [Link]
‘Mom…I’m Gay’: The story of one woman who heard these devastating words. [Link]
Contacted yesterday by ThinkProgress, Braves spokesperson Beth Marshall said that the Braves have asked that Focus on the Family not be affiliated with the two upcoming Braves “Faith Day” events on August 13 and August 26. Marshall declined to explain what brought about the decision to exclude Focus on the Family from the future events.
The emphases are mine. My first reaction is "woo-hoo" to anyone who stands up to the FOTF Christo-fascists, but this is more than just flipping James Dobson the bird.
A key reason the Holy Terrors have so much power is they're able to equate their own sick ideology with Christianity in general. Christianity as a whole is guilty by association with Dobson and his ilk. By continuing the Faith Day activities but specifically excluding FOTF from participation, the Braves are doing something more religious groups need to do. They're saying, "No, you DON'T speak for all followers of Christ."
Now, if the Braves could just win some games. I wonder if Dobson's going to say they've got a losing record because they "turned God away from the National Pastime."
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