ST. LOUIS, Missouri, June 16, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) — Lots of Major League Baseball teams hold special group promotions to help sell tickets.
One such attraction for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, and other teams is “Christian Day,” when current and former team members share details about their faith in Christ. On “Christian Day,” fans in some cities bring food and groceries to support military families.
This year’s “Christian Day” for Cardinals fans is July 30 and includes former player Lance Berkman, a Christian who has spoken publicly against transgender bathrooms.
Though the Cardinals have hosted “Christian Day” for nearly 30 years, they are now coming under fire from the homosexual community.
The “Pride Center” of St. Louis went online to demand “homophobe” Berkman’s appearance be “cancelled” because his “words and actions towards the LGBT (community) are divisive and demeaning.”
In 2015, Berkman publicly opposed a Houston city ordinance that added “gender identity” to its anti-discrimination laws and allowed men to use women’s intimate facilities such as showers, toilets, changing areas, and locker rooms.
“Pride St. Louis is disappointed by the decision of the St. Louis Cardinals to provide a public platform for Berkman,” the statement read.
The team responded to gay critics by pointing out “Christian Day” is a 30-year tradition, that the ballclub welcomes “all types of people and organizations,” and will also host LGBTQ Pride Night at the Busch Stadium.
“The Cardinals have hosted a Christian Day at the ballpark for nearly three decades. The post-game event usually features a well-known keynote speaker (often a former Cardinal or professional athlete) who talks about his or her experience of being a practicing Christian in the public arena. Lance Berkman participated in Christian Day when he was a Cardinals player, and we welcome him back this year to discuss his faith.
“As an organization, the Cardinals have always been committed to bringing like-minded groups together to share in the unifying experience of Cardinals baseball. We are an inclusive organization with a social responsibility to be welcoming to all types of people and organizations. We continue to try and reach out to every part of our community, and have hosted a variety of themed events like Christian Day, Jewish Community Night, Catholic Family Night, Bosnian Heritage Night, Fiesta Cardenales, and many others. We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our first Pride Night later this season (details to follow shortly) which will bring members of the LGBT Community together to enjoy Cardinals baseball.”