San Francisco is renaming a street in the Mission to honor a longtime LGBTQ activist.
Alert Alley, which is off Dolores Street, between 15th and 16th streets, will be known as Sister Vish-Knew Way.
Vish-Knew is a co-founder of the The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
The street is significant because Vish-Knew, and two friends, put on nuns’ habits a block away from Alert Alley on Easter weekend in 1979.
It was the beginning of what became a global organization designed to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Full story at NBC Bay Area.
Bio of “Grandmother Vish-new” from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence website:
Founder of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in 1979. A contemporary of Harvey Milk. I moved to San Francisco in January 1979 from a Gay farm in Iowa City, Iowa. I Brought the Sisters first 5 Catholic nun’s habits to San Francisco from my drag troupe in Iowa (“The Sugar Plum Fairies”). We acquired the habits from the local Catholic convent. We said we were doing a performance of the “Sound of Music”, but really used them for a drag show. One bored Easter weekend in 1979 my roomate and I donned the habits to have some fun, and it turned into a worldwide spiritual, community service, activist, performance and artist organization of Sisters. My activism began in Iowa Mennonite High School in Iowa, and continued at Mennonite Hesston College in Kansas. I was the second person in the U.S. to apply for a same-sex marriage license, in 1976.
One word to describe this image. Diabolical.
Indulgences are a forgotten and neglected part of Catholic faith and devotional life. The Church encourages the faithful to perform devotional and charitable acts in order to gain partial and plenary indulgences. I’m proud that one of the sisters devoted to perpetual indulgences has been recognized by the City of S.F. Maybe this will bring much needed attention to get Catholics back to being concerned more about obtaining indulgences.
Penanoke– the name of this Satanic, anti-Catholic “hate” group is a mockery of the Catholic Church– a mockery of the holy Vows of Chastity of our nuns, a desecration of the nuns’ holy religious habit, and a celebration of filthy LGBT sex indulgences. The Mayor should publicly apologize to the Catholic Church, and change the name of the mis-named street back to the original name. And promise to never allow “hate” groups and individuals to be honored again, in this city.
To Penanoke: If you google “Sisters…make fun of the Church”, this comes up: ‘The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence often parody sacred religious rituals in an offensive manner. Examples include their “Our Bother” prayer and their “Condom Savior Communion,” which makes fun of the Catholic Mass…” And at THEIR “Masses”, SrsPetInDull hand out mock fake communion wafers, oh how cute and funny. So let’s be truthful, The Sisters of Pet in Dull, are in no way helping or befriending the Church. If they spoke or mocked any other organization this way, they would be condemned and censored immediately.
I love the Sisters .They do good things and help others where Christians just turn away. Their service is love.
I am emailing this despicable Catholic news story to the Catholic League, EWTN’s news sources, and other places. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is an anti-Catholic hate group. The Mayor is totally wrong, to honor these Satanic perverts, naming a San Francisco street after one of them.
In doing so, you are giving these sick people exactly what they want … ATTENTION.
No. I am publicly voicing my belief, that to honor “hate” groups is wrong. I also wrote the Mayor of San Francisco, and respectfully voiced my beliefs. Any type of “hate” group should be against the law. Jews, Asians, Blacks, Muslim Uyghurs of China, Christians, and all religious and ethnic groups, should be safe from ridicule, mockery, bullying, and harm. The Mayor of San Francisco should respect Catholics. And seek to promote respect for all religious and ethnic groups, in San Francisco. There have been some horrifying recent news stories, of prejudice and bullying. One, of the assault and murder of an Asian lady in the NYC subway, and another, of the horrific hostage situation at the Jewish synagogue, in Texas. Respect for Catholics is a must, in San Francisco.
Speaking as one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, I submit that when religious organizations dismiss their own “hate” , bias, bigotry and exclusion of those that have a different set of beliefs and ideals, they may request to be free of ridicule “bigotry and harm” (actually, I find it amusing that the writer feels slighted by the Sisters presence, given the centuries of persecution the Church has laid on unbelievers).
One of the acts of service I was involved with as a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence was supporting the ministry of an active Sister of Mercy in Sacramento, CA in caring for Sacramento‘s homeless.
We take our vows to serve our community seriously as we also educate, entertain and promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt (caused in large part by the Church).
Sr. Defiance Royale
Missionary Sister to Western Ohio
Sr. Defiance Royale, in the interests of transparency, are you a man or a woman? What are your “different set of ideals” as compared to historic Christian virtues? What constitutes “hate” in your mind when you find opposition among Christians? What kind of care do you provide for Sacramento’s homeless? In fact what is your mission? What are your vows, and toward what end do you educate? What is “universal joy” and “stigmatic guilt”? I ask these questions because you seem to hide behind ill-defined terms and vague values and purpose. Thanks in advance for your help.
@Dan,
In this world of billions, not all are Christian. Frankly, many of those that hide behind the name ‘christian’ do not enact the core command of Christ, which was to love one another…but I digress.
We educate our audience on LGBTQI terminology and culture, safer sex practices, including use of condoms and PREP. The importance of medical checks and testing for sexually transmitted infections.
We are an anonymous ear to hear from the public the struggles and burdens of their heart. We are able to provide them with community resources and referrals when it is appropriate.
Our anonymity comes from our use of white face and elaborate costume that also opens doors for conversation that otherwise would not have occurred.
We assist other non-profit groups, such as the homeless outreach I mentioned before, local food banks, pet rescues, HIV testing centers and mental health outreach centers with funding each year.
We create social events to build and enhance the sense of community between the LGBTQI and our allies.
Our vows to spread joy should be self-evident. If by our appearance or our ability to engage someone in conversation or to entertain them, they can let go of a burden for at least a little while and smile, we’ve done our duty in that regard.
Expiation if stigmatic guilt is also somewhat obvious. Society as a whole, and the church in particular are good at stigmatizing individuals and groups of people causing feelings of
guilt and a sense of shame. We show these stigmatized people that if we can don this outrageous makeup and outlandish costume and bring joy into the lives of those we meet, they can be themselves, whatever that might look like without guilt and without shame.
Only those that subscribe to a particular belief are bound by its precepts.
Sister Defiance Royale,
I am appreciative of you writing your comments. I notice that you started each with stigmatizing guilt-not to criticize, just to point out it is an easy place to go.
I am not offended by the Sisters but I think care should be taken on what might offend God. Understanding the sacredness and other-worldiness of practices like Holy Communion, the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for the salvation of all people (even those who do not subscribe to our particular beliefs) and the Immaculate Ever-Virgin Mary and all She has done and suffered to co-operate with the salvation of all people and her intercession for every individual-these would help your organization not offend Catholics.
The story- About 2000 years ago, a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph was visited by an angel whose name was Gabriel. He was sent by God to tell her that she was to conceive and bear a son whose Name would be Jesus and He would be great She questioned how this would happen because she did not “know man.” The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon Her and the Spirit of the Lord would overshadow Her and the offspring would be Holy, the Son of God. She replied “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
Jesus began His Mission to save His people from their sins. He told them to “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” He went around Israel healing the sick, raising the dead, driving out demons from possessed people and teaching people how to be pleasing to God. The VIPs in the temple and synagogues were not nice to him. They asked him questions trying to trip Him up and trick Him. He was getting very popular and the people were starting to realize that he was “the Expected One of Moses, the Anointed One, the Messiah” who they expected would save them from Roman Rule. Eventually, the VIPs were plotting to kill Him and one of Jesus’ followers conspired with them to have Him arrested. He was led before the King, the procurator and people bore false witness against him. Eventually the VIPs found Him guilty of blasphemy which in the law of Israel was punishable by death. They took him to the Roman procurator and even he found that Jesus was not guilty of any wrong. He got scared of the crowds whom the VIPs had worked up to ask for the death of Jesus so he gave in and ordered the scourging and crucifixion of Jesus. While he was being held, the soldiers tortured him and created a crown of thorns for Him and mocked Him. Then they made Him carry a heavy cross of wood up to the Hill called Calvary. There, they pounded nails into His Hands and Feet to secure Him to the Cross and crucified Him….
Before Jesus” Death and Resurrection, people could not go to Heaven. Since, His Death and Resurrection, people can go to Heaven. Heaven is a place of perfection so people need to be purified of their sins. Sins are those things in a person which offend God. All people sin (except Jesus and Mary). This is how Jesus saves us from our sins. He washes us clean in Baptism. (If you are not baptized, when you get baptized all of your sins are automatically forgiven.) After baptism, when we sin, we can be made clean in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There are grave sins and venial sins (not so grave). In the Sacrament of Holy Communion, venial sins are forgiven. Holy Communion also is pledge of eternal life. It is Jesus, the bread come down from Heaven which gives life to the world.
God does not force people to love Him, even though He loves each person enough that He would suffer His Crucifixion and Death all over again for each one, if it were necessary. It is not. Every person has the potential to reject God and if they do, then they cannot go to Heaven (and they don’t want to, obviously) Then they go to Hell which is a place of eternal torment. It is not what God wants. God wants all people to be saved.
Maybe, when you dress to do your ministry, you could pray to Jesus and say “Lord, I have no desire to offend you….”
The website did not print my entire posts (they were long)
You can find the whole story in the Bible-the Gospel of Luke has the account of His early life.
I am not offended by them. They are a service organization and while I do not share all of their values and some of their names make me blush, I wonder if any of them were Catholic or are Catholic. Has any Catholic reached out to them?
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence-if you read this- Jesus Christ died so that sins could be forgiven. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God who cannot deceive nor be deceived.
Romans 10:8-11
But what does it say?
“The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart”
(that is, the word of faith that we preach),
for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
For the scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”
You can find Jesus Christ in any Catholic Church where He remains under the appearance of bread in the Tabernacle 24 hours every day, every year, every century.
We welcome you to join us in the fullness of faith.
John 6:37-40
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
38
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.s
39
And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day.t
40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.”u
This post and its scriptural references have nothing to do with the self-proclaimed beliefs and tactics of the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”. Any informed person knows that the “Sisters” real purpose is to be open and vocal enemies of the Faith. Nothing more or less. Pie-in-the-sky scriptural references cannot disguise their true motives and beliefs. This post reinforces the long-held truth that the devil himself can quote the scriptures for his own purposes. Jesus Himself told us that, so that we be on guard.
The devil evangelizes?
Blessed Bartolo Longo, pray for us. Our Lady of Pompeii pray for us.
O Blood and Water which poured forth from the Heart of Jesus as a font of mercy for us, I trust In You.
Jesus is Lord.
The Christian faith got a lot of thumbs down.
Evil (Satan and his minions) is now on full display in our world and not even trying to hide anymore. The choice is becoming clearer and clearer: follow our Lord Jesus or choose the other…
You people were saying the same thing twenty years ago. Always doom and gloom.
“You people were saying the same thing twenty years ago. Always doom and gloom.” And thirty years ago, and forty years ago, and …, since the beginning of human history. Satan’s war against the Church might have begun when Satan entered into Judas so that he would betray Jesus. But by this betrayal we have the sacrifice for sins by the spotless Lamb of God and our living hope by his resurrection from the dead. So while Satan rages through groups like these the end of Satan is certain and the only doom and gloom is reserved for those who mock God and serve the flesh. The Christian’s expectation is joy unspeakable and full of glory.
When I was an abused foster, very young, I ran away in a sense of survival. I ended up under the staircase of a convent on a rainy cold day. One of the nuns heard me or at least noticed me, took me inside. She and the Mother Superior both noticed my bruises, got me some clean clothes, a bath, and food (To this day, macaroni and cheese is a comfort food!). Seeing my bloated stomach (I wasn’t fed much by my “family”), the nuns fed me first, which I promptly vomited up. A doctor was called in, and between my bruises, etc., asked the nuns to call the police. They did indeed, taking very good care of me. When the police and social workers called, I was adamant (and frankly scared) that I was going back. The nuns called the bishop, who gave them permission to care for me quietly 1) so that I could recover, and 2) keep me away from harm. I was like a scared puppy, but they kept me fed, warm and yes, loved. For a few days, I ate, slept, and calmed down. One day the bishop brought a couple over, who literally invited me to their home. They seemed nice, they showed me pictures of a bed, a housel I looked to the Mother Superior who simply smiled, nodded her head in approval. I cried leaving, but ended up in that very home, and within a couple of days (thanks to the bishop apparently calling in favors), my parents and I were officially made a family in front of a judge.
So to me, though they have rights to free speech, I take offense for the nuns, in honor of those sisters who literally pulled me out of a very bad place, healed me, and helped find me a family. Do I think this mocking group is going to greatly harm the nuns? Not likely, my experience is that overall they’re a pretty tough bunch, calmed and tempered by prayer and patience. So I’m not going to sweat these yahoos, and definitely not give them the attention they crave, but rather put attention on the nuns who deserve better.
Thank you for your story and perspective!
I am sorry for your abuse and I thank God for your escape. I hope the rest of your life was good.
Pray for healing and deliverance for these poor, misguided men. The words of Scripture come to mind:
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God… who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth… They are men of depraved minds… In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3
If anyone doesn’t know, you can become Catholic. Nobody is born Catholic. Check on your cities Catholic church website and get information on becoming Catholic.
Take a few moments to consider what would happen to the Srs of Perpetual Indulgence if this happened:
1) That these Gay folk would dress up in Blackface, and mimic black people.
2) That these Gay folk would wear Yellow Stars of David on their jackets, and make fun of the Torah and the Synagogue
3) That these Gay folk would wear hijabs and make jokes about Allah and Muslims
4) That these Gay folk would make fun of Pro Abortion Women
5) That these Gay folk would make fun of the Mayor and the Governor
6) That these Gay folk would make fun of the Democratic party
7) That these Gay folk would dress up like Indians, and hold mock Indian Dances
So Mayor Breed and local politicians, what are you doing here?
Think about this – if these gay actions and your official governmental approval, were directed against any other group, there would be lawsuits, and even the possibility of jail terms.
Nothing would happen. Really.
Really, nothing would happen? OK, prove it. Let’s see the sisters wear hijabs and make fun of Muslims. Really. Do it. Really
I respect Muslims in one aspect they will not tolerate the mocking of their Faith, we not only allow it, we encourage it.. Tomas DeTorquemada pray for us
The Crowning with Thorns
You all are so uninformed it’s stunning. The Sisters are the furthest thing imaginable from a hate group. In fact, they are the polar opposite.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence do not hate Catholics, nor do they hate the Church. And, in fact, while you all want to believe they mock and belittle nuns, in reality the exact opposite is true.
The Sisters do not mock nuns, they emulate them. They respect and highly value women religious and a great number of nuns and orders of women religious know this and return the love and respect to The Sisters.
The majority of Catholic nuns, those who have done their research, realize that The Sisters are honoring their vocation by bringing it to the LGBTQ community who have historically been shunned and neglected by the Church.
Sister Dharma’s remarks show the complete arrogance of the Srs. They mock the Church, desecrate the Eucharist, make fun of the Mass, and think it is humorous to rewrite the Our Father, for the amusement of their gay buddies. Let’s have no more of your “We Srs love and respect you, even while we are making fun of you”. No! And so Sr. Dharma, the challenge above is repeated, directly to you and your fellow Srs, Let’s see you make fun of the Mayor, the Governor, and get on Islamic robes and hijabs, and poke fun at Muslims – and make sure you do it in a public place, so that Muslims can see and appreciate your act. I’m sure they will understand that you highly value them, and return their Muslim love and respect to you. (Well OK, perhaps you should wear bulletproof vests under your Islamic robes – we Catholics do so highly value you….)
Sister Dharma Gettin’, some Catholics are offended by it. Why would you tell people to “go and sin some more”? That is a mockery of Christ, Himself.
Do you believe in God? Do you believe Jesus is Lord?
Maybe you could work on purifying your organization from those things that mock the Holy Word and anything that is Sacred.
Maybe some of the Sisters do not understand the Catholic Faith and why it is offensive.
I remember when The Davinci Code came out. It was very offensive to Catholics but the director Ron Howard was completely confused by the outcry. He did not know what he had done that was so bad.
FATHER,… this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”1 John 17:3
“God our Saviour desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4
“There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” than the name of JESUS.
There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”Acts4:12
“Besides hosting fundraisers, blessing ceremonies and community outreach events, much of the group’s work consists of what it calls “bar ministry.”
“Bar ministry is where you end up having some of your most important Sister moments, and that’s largely just bar-hopping. You go from one bar to the next in your Sister persona, you talk to people, you hand out little packages with condoms and lube, safe-sex information, where you can go for HIV testing and PrEP, that kind of stuff,” Bair explains. He’s been surprised at how vulnerable people are willing to get with a stranger in clown makeup, and has started carrying brochures of queer mental health resources for times when he is simply not equipped to provide the support people need. “People will confide really deeply personal things. That’s why it’s called ministry and not just bar-hopping,” he adds.
“Bair clarifies, they are not here to ridicule anyone’s religious beliefs, but rather to offer spiritual alternatives for those whom the church has traditionally shunned.
“It’s not that we’re making fun of religion,” he says. “We’re carving out a place where the queer community has repeatedly been told, ‘You’re not allowed here.’ We’re allowing people to reclaim that sense for themselves.”
Source: https://www.westword.com/arts/golden-nugget-sisters-perpetual-indulgence-14370326