Rachel Evans
The Catholic League has commented on the relationship between former President Donald Trump and the Catholic Church. While Trump's personal faith has been questioned, the Catholic League has acknowledged that his policies on religious liberty are favourable to Catholics. The Catholic League's president, Bill Donohue, has criticised Trump's comments on Joe Biden's religious beliefs, but has also praised Trump's policies on religious liberty. Trump's administration has been described as more Catholic than you know, with Vice President JD Vance being Catholic and his cabinet including several serious Catholics. However, there has been tension between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church, particularly over immigration policies and the suspension of refugee programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic League's stance on Trump's election | "The election of Donald Trump may signal a change for the better on religious liberty issues. We will know in due course." |
| Catholic League's opinion on Trump's religiousness | "No one seriously believes that Trump is a man of deep faith." |
| Catholic League's opinion on Biden's religiousness | "Trump has no business smearing Biden’s personal faith. What he said is indefensible. He should stick to policy matters, not personal ones." |
| Catholic League's opinion on Kamala Harris | "Harris throughout the campaign demonstrated a 'clear animus against Catholics.'" |
| Catholic Bishops' stance on Trump administration | The USCCB is suing the Trump administration over its suspension of refugee programs and its immigration policies. |
| Catholic League's opinion on Trump's policies | "Trump’s policies on religious liberty are a model of excellence." |
| Catholic League's opinion on Biden's policies | "Biden tries hard to convince the public that he is a 'devout Catholic' yet his religious-liberty rulings are unimpressive, and in some cases, subversive of this First Amendment right." |
| Catholic League's opinion on Trump's supporters | "Religious Americans who are in Trump’s corner are hypocrites." |
| Trump's cabinet | More than one-third Catholic. |
| Trump's approval rating among Christians | 8 points higher than among non-Christians. |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's relationship with the Catholic Church
While Donald Trump's personal faith has been called into question, his relationship with the Catholic Church has been a topic of interest, particularly in light of his administration's policies and their alignment with Catholic teachings.
Trump's Personal Faith
It is well-known that a majority of Americans, including evangelical Protestants who view him favourably, do not consider Trump to be a devout Christian. In a Politico/Morning Consult survey, only 14% of US adults associated the term "Christian" with the former president, and only 27% of registered voters believed him to be religious. Trump himself has made comments about other politicians' faith, such as accusing Joe Biden of being "against God," which was criticised by Catholic League president Bill Donohue as "indefensible."
Catholic Support for Trump
Despite questions about his personal faith, Trump has received significant support from Catholic voters. In an article titled "Donald Trump Can Thank Catholics for His Big Win," the National Catholic Register acknowledges the role of Catholic voters in Trump's election victory. Trump's policies on religious liberty and his criticism of Biden's religious liberty rulings have been cited as reasons for this support.
Catholic Influence in the Trump Administration
Trump's administration included a significant number of Catholics, including Vice President JD Vance, who is a Catholic convert, and cabinet members like Marco Rubio and Sean Duffy, who have spoken about how their Catholic faith shapes their approach to policy. Trump's cabinet has been described as "more Catholic than you know," and his team has been observed to be "earnestly striving to apply the precepts of our faith to the policies that govern America."
Tensions with the Catholic Church
However, there have also been tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church, particularly over certain policies and stances. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has criticised the administration over its suspension of refugee programs and its immigration policies, which they believe show a lack of charity. There is also concern within the Church about the administration's approach to countries like Ukraine and its support for IVF, which presents a moral dilemma for Catholics.
In conclusion, while Trump's personal faith may be debated, his relationship with the Catholic Church is complex. He has received support from Catholic voters and has a significant number of Catholics in his administration, but there are also areas of conflict between his policies and the teachings and values of the Catholic Church.
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Catholic League's view on Trump's religious liberty policies
The Catholic League, led by Bill Donohue, has expressed mixed views on former President Donald Trump's religious liberty policies. While the League has acknowledged that Trump's election may signal a positive change for religious liberty issues, they have also been critical of some of his administration's actions.
In 2017, Donohue stated that Trump's election could be a "change for the better on religious liberty issues," but also acknowledged that only time would tell. This statement seems to be based on a comparison with Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, whom Donohue criticized for his ""unimpressive" and "subversive" religious liberty rulings.
The Catholic League has also taken issue with Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris. They accused her of having a ""clear animus against Catholics" due to her support for the Equality Act and the Do No Harm Act, which they believe would undermine religious liberty protections.
However, the Catholic League has also been critical of some aspects of the Trump administration's policies and actions. For example, there has been tension between the administration and the Catholic Church over immigration issues. Trump's rhetoric towards immigrants has been seen as a lack of charity, although his immigration policies have aligned with the Church's understanding of national sovereignty. Additionally, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has sued the Trump administration over its suspension of refugee programs and its rescinding of policies related to the care and protection of pregnant women in custody.
While the Catholic League has not explicitly stated their overall assessment of Trump's religious liberty policies, they seem to recognize the complexities and nuances involved in evaluating his administration's actions in relation to Catholic teachings and values.
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Catholic League's criticism of Trump's comments on Biden's faith
On August 6, 2020, then-President Trump accused Joe Biden of being "against God." The following day, Catholic League president Bill Donohue released a tweet criticizing Trump's comments:
> Trump has no business smearing Biden’s personal faith. What he said is indefensible. He should stick to policy matters, not personal ones.
Donohue's tweet came after a Politico/Morning Consult survey released in June showed that only 27% of registered voters believed Trump to be religious. Despite Trump's low religious approval rating, Donohue acknowledged that Trump's policies were more aligned with Catholic teachings than Biden's, particularly on the issue of abortion.
Biden's stance on abortion and gay marriage has caused tension between him and the Catholic Church. While Biden identifies as a devout Catholic, his support for abortion and gay marriage contradicts the official teachings of the Church. As a result, some bishops and priests have criticized Biden and even denied him Holy Communion.
In contrast, Trump's policies on religious liberty have been described as "a model of excellence" by the Catholic League, despite the widespread belief that Trump himself is not a man of deep faith. The Catholic League's criticism of Trump's comments on Biden's faith highlights the organization's focus on policy matters rather than personal religious beliefs.
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Catholic League's view on Trump's personal life and morals
The Catholic League has acknowledged that Donald Trump's personal life is marred with moral failings, but it maintains that his policies on religious liberty are commendable. In 2017, Bill Donohue, the president of the Catholic League, stated that Trump's election may signal a positive shift for religious liberty issues. While recognizing that Trump is not a man of deep faith, Donohue praised his policies on religious freedom, contrasting them with those of Biden, whom he accused of subverting the First Amendment right to religious liberty.
The Catholic League's defense of Trump's policies has sparked criticism from some Catholics, who argue that Trump's personal life and morals should be a cause for concern. They contend that Trump's characterological flaws and lack of deep faith make him a questionable choice for religious voters. However, the Catholic League counters that the focus should be on a candidate's policies rather than their personal religious beliefs. They argue that Trump's policies are more aligned with religious liberty than those of his opponents, such as Biden, whose abortion and gender policies are seen as subversive to Catholic values.
The Catholic League's stance on Trump's personal life and morals has been influenced by their priority of policy over persona. They argue that Trump's policies are more critical in evaluating his suitability for office than his personal morals or religious devotion. This perspective aligns with the views of some religious voters, who prioritize political goals over traditional religious values.
While the Catholic League acknowledges Trump's moral shortcomings, they maintain that his policies are more critical in shaping their support. They see Trump as filling a moral vacuum, exhibiting a capacity to make decisions that prioritize religious liberty, even if his personal life does not reflect deep faith. This perspective has drawn both support and criticism, highlighting the complex nature of evaluating political candidates through a religious lens.
The Catholic League's perspective on Trump's personal life and morals reflects a pragmatic approach that prioritizes policy alignment over personal virtues. While they recognize his moral failings, they believe his policies are more critical in shaping their support, especially regarding religious liberty. This stance has sparked debates within Catholic circles, underscoring the multifaceted considerations at play when assessing political leaders from a religious perspective.
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Catholic Bishops' war with Trump administration
Tensions between the Catholic Church and the Trump administration have been well-documented. In May 2025, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) criticised U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody, and documentation of pregnant women they encounter. The USCCB, the official assembly of the Catholic Church in the United States, released a statement expressing deep concern over the decision, highlighting the potential risks to the safety of pregnant mothers and their young children in government custody.
The USCCB has also been engaged in an ongoing civil case against the Trump administration regarding the suspension of refugee programs. The USCCB filed a lawsuit in February 2025, citing its decades-long collaboration with the government to assist refugees fleeing persecution, instability, and oppression. The lawsuit argues that the funding freeze jeopardises the organisation's refugee resettlement programs and its relationships with subrecipients and the refugee populations it serves.
In addition to the USCCB, individual Catholic figures have also voiced their opposition to certain policies of the Trump administration. Pope Francis, for example, rebuked Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, for his interpretation of a "Christian concept" of extending love first to one's family and then to fellow citizens. The Pope emphasised that true Christian love, as exemplified in the parable of the "good Samaritan," promotes a fraternity open to all, without exception.
These instances of conflict between Catholic Bishops and the Trump administration highlight areas of disagreement and tension between the Catholic Church and the former president's policies, particularly regarding immigration and refugee issues.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic League has praised Trump's policies on religious liberty, but has also criticised him for his comments on Joe Biden's faith. The Catholic League's president, Bill Donohue, has said that Trump's election may signal a change for the better on religious liberty issues.
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is an organisation that has been leading the charge in every major cultural battle for 50 years.
Trump's relationship with the Catholic Church has been strained, with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) battling his administration over policies such as the suspension of refugee programs and immigration.
While some Catholics support Trump, others are critical of him due to his personal life and moral failings. Trump's approval rating among Christians is 8 points higher than among the general US population.
Trump is not widely considered to be a particularly devout Christian. Only 14% of US adults associate the word "Christian" with him.
