Dodger Outfielder Andre Ethier, Not a Vanilla Christian

By The Stream Published on April 13, 2015

We need more athletes like Andre Ethier, an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who among other things in 2009 tied the major league record for walk-off home runs and two years later won a Golden Glove award. And he speaks openly about his faith. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times Magazine, he said in response to the interviewer’s observation that he didn’t hide his faith:

I think faith has played an important part in my development since I was a young kid. It’s developed me into the person I am. And to shun away from that just because you’re supposed to be more vanilla in certain areas, it wouldn’t be me. I’m always trying to portray myself as who I really am, so that’s definitely part of me — the faith part.

The interviewer followed up with two more questions:

Interviewer: So going to Mass regularly is a big part of that for you?

Ethier: Oh yeah, I think it’s important — not only the aspect of having some type of discipline to follow, but I think it’s also a great time to be able to clear your mind and think about where you’re at in general. Sometimes things get out of perspective pretty quickly. So no matter what happens, good or bad, you gotta keep steady in that faith.

Interviewer: Then let me ask you as a fellow Catholic who has grappled with this question: How do you reconcile your faith with the abuse scandals that have been so prominent in the church?

Ethier: You feel a little bit ashamed and embarrassed for the way they handled some of those situations. Who wouldn’t if you belong to whatever group it is? You can relate it to the Dodgers: If they were to handle certain situations in a certain way, and you’re a follower and a fan of the team, you might be embarrassed and upset, but you don’t disown it and just say that’s it. Hopefully they’re making strides, sooner and quicker than they have in the past.

Here’s a story about another Catholic player, who retired on the verge of entering the majors to become a brother in a Norbertine abbey.