Ethan Walker
J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, is a Catholic convert. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Gertrude Priory in Cincinnati, Ohio, in August 2019. In an interview, Vance revealed that he chose St. Augustine as his patron saint. Before his conversion, Vance was raised in an evangelical household by Christian relatives, many of whom did not attend church. He has written about his journey to Catholicism in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, and a long essay in the Catholic magazine, The Lamp.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Converted to Catholicism | Yes |
| Date of conversion | August 2019 |
| Place of conversion | St. Gertrude Priory in Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Person who converted him | Rev. Henry Stephan, a Dominican friar |
| Patron Saint | St. Augustine |
| Reason for conversion | Persuaded that Catholicism was true; Influenced by Catholic friends and family |
| Views on public policy | Aligned with Catholic social teaching |
| Support for abortion pill | Yes |
| Views on immigration | Supports massive immigrant deportations |
| Views on tariffs | Supports tariffs to protect American industries |
| Views on abortion | Anti-abortion |
| Political affiliation | Republican |
| Political ambition | Running for Vice President in 2024 |
| Spouse's religion | Hindu |
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What You'll Learn
JD Vance's conversion to Catholicism
J.D. Vance, the former Ohio State senator and Republican vice-presidential nominee, was baptized and confirmed as a Catholic in August 2019. He has written extensively about his life in faith, both in his mega-selling memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy", and in a long essay that describes his conversion for the Easter 2020 issue of the Catholic magazine, "The Lamp".
Vance's conversion to Catholicism came several years after his grandmother, to whom he was very close, died in 2005. He connected with Catholic doctrine at this time, but he felt that converting would mean he was no longer truly his grandmother's grandson. This left him in limbo for many years. He had grown up in an evangelical household and had attended a Pentecostal church as a youth, but in college, he embraced atheism.
In his 30s, Vance began to study Catholicism in earnest. He met with Father Henry Stephan at St. Gertrude Church in Cincinnati, and for months, they read works of theology, mysticism, and political and moral philosophy. Vance also had several informal conversations with a couple of Dominican friars, which led to a period of serious study of Catholicism. He found that his views on public policy were pretty aligned with Catholic social teaching, and he was persuaded over time that Catholicism was true.
Vance has said that the Catholic Church's clergy sex-abuse scandal delayed his conversion by a few months. He also felt hesitant about joining the Catholic Church because he wasn't a Catholic when he married his wife, Usha, who is Hindu. However, she supported his decision.
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His wife's influence on his conversion
Usha Vance, wife of JD Vance, has been described as a supportive influence on her husband's conversion to Catholicism. Usha, a practising Hindu, has been quoted as saying that her parents' Hindu faith made them "good parents and really good people", which helped her support her husband's spiritual journey. She has attended Mass with him since his conversion, despite her husband's concerns that he was making her attend church services regularly.
Usha and JD Vance met at Yale Law School, and were in an interfaith relationship. They married in 2014, in an interfaith ceremony, with a blessing from a Hindu pandit. Usha has been described as her husband's "Yale spirit guide", and has been an advisor to him, travelling with him to campaign events and appearing onstage. She has also been credited with helping him prepare for the 2024 vice-presidential debate, which some columnists declared him the winner of.
Usha has also helped JD Vance "re-engage" with his Christian faith. JD Vance has written about how his wife helped him work through his anger issues, which stemmed from his chaotic childhood and his mother's drug abuse. He has also written about how he felt that Catholicism made sense to him, but he was hesitant to convert because he didn't want to lose his connection to his grandmother, who had died in 2005.
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His Catholic faith's influence on his politics
J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, is an adult convert to Catholicism. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio, in August 2019. He has written about his journey to the Catholic faith in his mega-selling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy" and a 6,777-word essay in the Easter 2020 issue of the Catholic magazine, "The Lamp".
Vance's Catholic faith has influenced his political views, particularly his stance on abortion. He has stated that his views on public policy align with Catholic social teaching. In an interview with Rod Dreher in August 2019, shortly after his conversion, he noted the tension between getting votes and living a life of faith. He acknowledged that politics is "in part a popularity contest" and that it can be challenging to reconcile seeking votes with adhering to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Vance's Catholic faith has also influenced his views on religious liberty. He accused Vice President Kamala Harris of prejudice against Catholics, arguing that she had made it clear that she did not respect the First Amendment right to practice one's faith. Additionally, he criticized Harris for her support of the Do No Harm Act and the Equality Act, which he believed would infringe on religious liberty by removing religious exemptions and subjecting Catholic institutions to anti-discrimination laws.
Vance's faith has also shaped his personal life and relationships. He has credited his Catholic practice with helping him increase his patience, curb his temper, forgive more easily, and prioritize his family over his career. Additionally, his wife, Usha, who was raised in a Hindu household, has been supportive of his conversion, and they have navigated their religious differences together.
However, Vance's Catholic faith has also drawn scrutiny from some pro-life groups and other religious individuals who question his commitment to their cause and worry that his Catholicism may influence his stance on abortion. They have expressed concerns about his support for mifepristone, an abortion pill, and his endorsement of Texas' law banning abortion.
Overall, while J.D. Vance's Catholic faith has influenced his politics, particularly regarding abortion and religious liberty, it has also made him the subject of scrutiny from some religious groups who question his alignment with their values.
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Criticism of his Catholic faith
JD Vance, a US politician, has faced criticism for his conversion to Catholicism and his stance on certain issues as a Catholic.
Vance, who was baptized and confirmed as a Catholic in August 2019, has written extensively about his faith journey in his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy", and a long essay in the Catholic magazine, "The Lamp." He has described how he went from being a drug-using teenager with anger issues and family problems to a successful family man excited about his Catholic faith.
However, his Catholic faith has also drawn scrutiny, especially from those with differing political and religious views. Some critics have questioned whether he genuinely shares the values of the Catholic Church, given his support for abortion rights and his marriage to a Hindu woman. They have also expressed concern that his conversion was influenced by people close to him rather than a personal relationship with Jesus.
Vance has been accused of politicizing his faith, with some pro-life advocates questioning if he still aligns with their values. In an op-ed published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Vance accused Vice President Kamala Harris of prejudice against Catholics, suggesting that her policies and actions consistently exhibit anti-Catholic bias. He also criticized her support for the Do No Harm Act and the Equality Act, arguing that they would remove religious exemptions and subject Catholic institutions to anti-discrimination laws that conflict with Church teachings.
Vance's critics have also expressed disappointment in his foul language and lack of redemption in Christ, as depicted in the movie based on his life. They have prayed for him to find Christ and experience a born-again conversion, expressing concern that Catholicism is not Biblical and that its structure and traditions may lead him astray from God's written word.
While facing criticism, Vance has also received support from some Catholics who agree with his stance on certain issues, such as deporting illegal immigrants. Additionally, some have defended him from judgment and encouraged love and support for him as a fellow believer in Jesus Christ.
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His grandmother's influence on his conversion
J.D. Vance, a former atheist, has spoken extensively about his conversion to Catholicism. In his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy", and a 6,777-word essay in the Easter 2020 issue of the Catholic magazine, "The Lamp", Vance details his journey to the Catholic faith.
Vance's grandmother, whom he called "Mamaw", was a significant influence on his life and faith. She had a "deeply personal (albeit quirky) faith", believing in Jesus and admiring preachers like Billy Graham and Donald Ison, but she despised "organized religion", seeing it as a breeding ground for "perverts and money changers". Vance writes that he and his grandmother often argued about religion.
Despite her disapproval of organized religion, Vance's grandmother's faith had a profound impact on his eventual conversion to Catholicism. He writes that he slowly began to see Catholicism as the closest expression of her kind of Christianity:
> "obsessed with virtue, but cognizant of the fact that virtue is formed in the context of a broader community; sympathetic with the meek and poor of the world without treating them primarily as victims; protective of children and families and with the things necessary to ensure they thrive. And above all: a faith centered around a Christ who demands perfection of us even as He loves unconditionally and forgives easily."
Vance's grandmother's death in 2005 left him in a sort of limbo regarding his faith. He felt a connection to Catholic doctrine, but he struggled with the idea that converting would mean he was no longer his "grandmother's grandson". This conflict left him in "the uncomfortable territory between curiosity about Catholicism and mistrust" for many years.
Vance's eventual conversion to Catholicism was also influenced by other factors, including his marriage to Usha, a Hindu woman who supported his exploration of faith, and conversations with Dominican friars and conservative Catholic writers. He was also influenced by the work of English philosopher Basil Mitchell, who presented life's difficult experiences as a trial of faith that requires trust in God.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, JD Vance is a Catholic convert.
Before converting to Catholicism, Vance was raised in an evangelical household by Christian relatives, many of whom didn't attend church.
In an interview with Rod Dreher, who was present at his baptism, Vance said he converted because he "became persuaded over time that Catholicism was true". He also observed that the people who meant the most to him were Catholic.
JD Vance converted to Catholicism in August 2019 when he was baptised and confirmed at St. Gertrude Priory in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In his memoir, *Hillbilly Elegy*, and a 2020 essay in the Catholic magazine *The Lamp*, Vance writes about his journey to Catholicism. He describes how he once held negative views about Catholicism, but that his conversations with Catholic friends and family members, such as his Uncle Dan, helped to change his mind. He also writes about how his conversion was delayed by the Catholic Church's clergy sex-abuse scandal.
