Sarah Mitchell
JD Vance, the 50th vice president of the United States, is a Catholic. He converted to Catholicism in 2019 and was baptized at St. Gertrude Priory in Cincinnati, choosing St. Augustine as his patron saint. Vance, who has written about his journey to Catholicism, has described himself as having been influenced by Catholic social teaching. He has also faced criticism from Pope Francis for using Catholic theology to justify the Trump administration's immigration policies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Catholic convert |
| Political Party | Republican |
| Political Views | Conservative, Right-wing populist, Postliberal right |
| Political Career | 50th Vice President of the United States, Ohio Senator |
| Military Service | Marine Corps veteran |
| Education | Bachelor's degree, Law degree from Yale Law School |
| Publications | "Hillbilly Elegy", "The Lamp" journal |
| Family | Wife: Usha Vance (Hindu), 3 Children: Ewan, Vivek, Mirabel |
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What You'll Learn
JD Vance's Catholic conversion
J.D. Vance, the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history, is a Catholic convert. He was raised in an Appalachian American culture by Christian relatives, many of whom didn't attend church. Before his conversion, he went through an angry atheist phase and identified as an atheist when he started law school.
Vance has written extensively about his life and faith journey in his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy", and in a long essay published in the Easter 2020 issue of The Lamp, a Catholic magazine. In his writing, he describes how a drug-using teenager with anger, family, and school problems, and doubts about God, became a successful family man excited about being Catholic.
Vance's journey to Catholicism began with what he calls "a few informal conversations with a couple of Dominican friars," which led to a period of serious study of the religion. He has cited several reasons for his conversion, including:
- He became persuaded over time that Catholicism was true.
- The people who meant the most to him were Catholic.
- He observed that Catholicism demanded that he think about the things that actually mattered.
Vance's conversion was also influenced by his desire to resolve the tension between getting votes and living a life of faith. He noted that politics is partly a popularity contest and that there is a challenge in aligning political viability with social conservatism in the 21st century.
Vance's Catholic faith has been described as an "unqualified advantage" in the vice presidential role, providing him with a coherent outlook on the world. However, there has been speculation about how his Catholicism will impact his policy decisions, particularly regarding abortion. While Vance has aligned himself with former President Donald Trump on some abortion issues, he has not explained how he integrates his Catholic faith with his position.
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Catholicism's influence on his politics
J.D. Vance, the vice president of the United States, is a Catholic. He converted to Catholicism in 2019 and is married to a Hindu woman. He has acknowledged the influence of Catholic theology on his sociopolitical positions and has written extensively about his life in faith.
Vance's Catholicism has been described as an "unqualified advantage" for his role as vice president. His faith is believed to provide him with a coherent outlook on the world and a guide for his geopolitical decisions. He himself has stated that his views on public policy and the optimal state are aligned with Catholic social teaching.
Vance's Catholicism has influenced his political positions, including his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. He has also been characterized as a national conservative and a right-wing populist, describing himself as a member of the postliberal right. His political beliefs include support for a strong state and the common good, which he sees as compatible with Catholic social teaching.
However, Vance's Catholicism has also led to some dilemmas, particularly regarding abortion. While he has aligned himself with former President Donald Trump's position on abortion, his Catholic faith has caused some to question his stance. He has not publicly explained how he integrates his Catholic faith with his position on abortion, and some pro-lifers have questioned whether he still represents their views.
Vance's Catholicism has also influenced his views on the role of the state and the common good, which are central to his political ideology. He has stated that his Catholicism has helped him think about the things that matter, including the importance of a coherent worldview and a calm geopolitical landscape.
In conclusion, J.D. Vance's Catholicism has had a significant influence on his politics and policy positions. It has shaped his worldview and provided a framework for his decisions as vice president. While his Catholic faith has been described as an advantage, it has also led to some dilemmas and questions about the integration of his religious beliefs with his political stances.
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His wife's view of his conversion
J.D. Vance, the vice president, is a Catholic. He converted to Catholicism in 2019, and his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, is a Hindu. Usha is the first Indian-American second lady in the White House and the first Hindu second lady. She comes from a deeply religious Hindu family.
Usha has supported her husband's faith journey, and she once told him that she believed his conversion to Catholicism "was good for" him. J.D. Vance acknowledged that he would never have been able to make such a decision without her support. However, he has also expressed concern over how their new routine has shifted more responsibility onto her, especially with their three children during Mass. He said:
> I feel terrible for my wife because we go to church almost every Sunday unless we’re on the road.
Usha has also accompanied J.D. Vance on visits to the Vatican. The couple had an interfaith marriage ceremony in 2014, which included a Bible reading and a blessing by a Hindu pandit.
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Pope Leo XIV's criticism of his immigration policy
JD Vance, the second Catholic vice president in US history, has been criticised by Pope Leo XIV for his interpretation of the church's teachings on society's responsibilities to others. Pope Leo XIV has expressed his dissatisfaction with the immigration policies of the Trump administration, of which Vance is a part.
Pope Leo XIV's criticism of the US immigration policy is evident through his actions and statements. The Pope's brother, John Prevost, revealed that the pontiff was "not happy with what's going on with immigration" and that he shared the concerns of his predecessor, Pope Francis. John Prevost's comments provide insight into Pope Leo XIV's perspective, suggesting that he intends to address the issue rather than remain silent.
Pope Leo XIV's opposition to the US immigration policy is further supported by the actions of his first US Bishop, who took a stand against the Trump administration's migrant crackdown. The Bishop, Rev. Michael Pham, emphasised the support of people of faith for immigrants and refugees, aligning with Pope Leo XIV's stance.
In addition to the statements and actions of those close to him, Pope Leo XIV's own comments provide direct criticism of the US immigration policy. The Pope has expressed sympathy for the death of George Floyd, indicating his support for social justice issues. Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV has criticised Trump's use of the phrase "bad hombres" to describe Mexicans, implying that such language fuels "racism and nativism".
While Pope Leo XIV has not explicitly stated his immigration policy preferences, his actions and statements, as well as those of his associates, indicate a clear criticism of the Trump administration's approach to immigration. The Pope's emphasis on social justice and his opposition to divisive language align with a more inclusive and compassionate stance on immigration.
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JD Vance's support for abortion pills
JD Vance, the vice president of the United States, is a Catholic. He was baptised as a Catholic in August 2019 and has written extensively about his life in faith, including a 6,777-word essay about his conversion for the Easter 2020 issue of The Lamp, a Catholic magazine.
Vance has stated that his views on public policy are "pretty aligned with Catholic social teaching". However, his stance on abortion has caused some controversy among Catholics. While he identifies as pro-life, he has expressed support for abortion pills, stating that he agrees with a recent US Supreme Court decision that "the American people should have access to that medication". When pressed about specific abortion pills, such as mifepristone and misoprostol, he affirmed his support for access to them.
Vance's comments on abortion pills have sparked criticism from some pro-lifers, who question his commitment to their cause. In 2023, he was one of 24 Republican US senators who signed a letter requesting the Biden administration to enforce the federal Comstock Act of 1873, which prohibits sending abortion-causing items through the mail. However, his stance shifted when he became Donald Trump's running mate in 2024, aligning his position with Trump's support for abortion pills.
Vance has also made controversial statements about abortion, including promoting a baseless right-wing talking point accusing abortion providers and supporters of targeting people of colour. He has called for a "federal response" to block women from travelling across state lines to obtain abortions, expressing sympathy for concerns about planes sending Black women to other states for abortions. Additionally, he has suggested that pro-lifers need to become more politically savvy, given that most voters support abortion in the majority of cases.
While Vance's Catholicism may influence his worldview, his friend James Orr believes that his policies will not necessarily conform to his private Catholic convictions. Orr suggests that Vance's decisions will have publicly justifiable reasons and will not solely be directed by his religious beliefs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, JD Vance is Catholic. He converted to Catholicism in 2019 and was baptized at St. Gertrude Priory in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Before converting to Catholicism, JD Vance was an atheist. He has also described himself as having been raised in a "conservative, evangelical" branch of Protestantism.
JD Vance has cited several influences on his decision to convert to Catholicism, including his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance, who is Hindu, and businessman Peter Thiel. In an essay for the Catholic magazine The Lamp, Vance wrote that he connected with Catholic doctrine several years after his grandmother's death in 2005.
JD Vance has been criticized by Pope Francis for his support of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, including the deportation of migrants. Vance has invoked Catholic theology to justify his stance, arguing that "you love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country."
As one of the most overtly religious major politicians in America, JD Vance's Catholicism has been a significant influence on his political career. He has described himself as influenced by Catholic social teaching and has taken conservative positions on social issues, opposing abortion, same-sex marriage, and gun control.
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