Joshua Bennett
Mike Pence, the 48th vice president of the United States, served under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021. He was raised in an Irish Catholic family, was an altar server, and attended parochial school. While studying history at Hanover College, Pence became a born-again, evangelical Catholic. He has described himself as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order. Pence has stressed religious freedom throughout his political career and has been particularly vocal about abortion, calling it the most pressing moral issue of our time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Richard Pence |
| Birth Date | June 7, 1959 |
| Political Party | Republican |
| Religion | Catholic, born-again evangelical Christian |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts in History, Juris Doctor |
| Profession | Lawyer, Radio and Television Talk Show Host |
| Political Career | US Representative from Indiana, Governor of Indiana, Vice President of the United States |
| Notable Issues | Abortion, Religious Freedom, Refugees |
| Spouse | Karen Pence |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Mike Pence was raised Catholic
Mike Pence, the former vice president of the United States, was raised Catholic. He was born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana, into an Irish Catholic family that revered the Kennedys. As a child, Pence served as an altar boy and attended parochial school in Columbus, Indiana. He was also a member of the Democratic Party and volunteered for the Bartholomew County Democratic Party in 1976.
However, while in college, Pence left the Catholic Church and became an evangelical, born-again Christian, disappointing his mother. He made a "commitment to Christ" while participating in a non-denominational Christian student group. After graduating from Hanover College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in history, he went on to law school and later worked as an admissions counsellor at his alma mater.
Pence's departure from the Catholic Church did not signify a rejection of religion. On the contrary, he remained deeply religious and later joined an evangelical church. He and his wife, Karen, were married in a Catholic church, and they raised their three children in the evangelical faith.
In his political career, Pence has been known for his strong religious beliefs and conservative values. He has supported various causes important to evangelicals and has been particularly vocal about abortion, calling it "the most pressing moral issue of our time." He has also clashed with the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis over refugee relocation efforts, citing security concerns.
Despite his evangelical leanings, Pence has maintained a connection to his Catholic roots. In 2020, he met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, an experience he described as making him "a hero" in the United States. Additionally, he has attended Catholic conferences and challenged lay Catholics to "boldly live out their faith in the public square."
Traditional Catholics' View on Hell: Eternal Damnation
You may want to see also
Explore related products
He left the Catholic Church while in college
Mike Pence, the former vice president of the United States, was raised Catholic. Growing up in an Irish Catholic family, he served as an altar boy and attended parochial school in Columbus, Indiana. However, while attending Hanover College, Pence left the Catholic Church and became an evangelical, born-again Christian. This decision reportedly disappointed his mother.
Pence's departure from the Catholic Church was influenced by his participation in a non-denominational Christian student group in college, where he made a "commitment to Christ." After graduating from Hanover College with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1981, he went on to attend law school and pursued a career in politics.
As a politician, Pence has been known for his conservative values and his strong religious beliefs. He has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order," which has resonated with conservative evangelical Christians. Pence and his wife, Karen, who were married in a Catholic church, officially joined an evangelical church later on in their lives. They have raised their three children with these evangelical beliefs.
Despite leaving the Catholic Church, Pence has returned to his Catholic roots on occasion. In 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic halted travel, he met Pope Francis at the Vatican, an experience that he described as making him "a hero" in the United States. Additionally, Pence has attended Catholic conferences, where he has encouraged lay Catholics to "boldly live out their faith in the public square."
While Pence's religious beliefs have gained him support, they have also sparked controversy. His appearance at Notre Dame University, a Catholic school, resulted in a student walkout, and his refusal to eat alone with women who are not his wife has raised eyebrows. Pence's strong stance on abortion, calling it "the most pressing moral issue of our time," has also been a point of contention, particularly with his clash with the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis over refugee support.
The Power of Vocal Prayer in Catholicism
You may want to see also
Explore related products
He has described himself as a born-again, evangelical Catholic
Mike Pence, the former vice president of the United States, has described himself as a "born-again, evangelical Catholic". He was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy in an Irish Catholic family that revered the Kennedys. He attended parochial school in Columbus, Indiana, and later graduated from Hanover College. While in college, Pence left the Catholic Church and became an evangelical, born-again Christian, which disappointed his mother.
Pence has been married in a Catholic church and has met Pope Francis at the Vatican, an experience that he said "made me a hero" in the United States. He has also attended evangelical megachurches and has supported causes important to evangelicals throughout his political career. Pence has stressed religious freedom and has a reputation as a "culture warrior". He has been particularly vocal about abortion, calling it "the most pressing moral issue of our time". He has also advocated for a national 15-week abortion ban and a proposal to ban gender transition procedures.
Pence has raised eyebrows for his refusal to eat alone with a woman who is not his wife or to attend events where alcohol is being served without her. His appearance at Notre Dame University, a Catholic school, ended in a student walkout, and his appearance at Taylor University, an evangelical school, led to the resignation of its president. Despite this, Pence has been popular with conservative evangelical Christians, both as vice president and during his time as a congressman and governor of Indiana.
As vice president, Pence chaired the National Space Council and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. He served under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021 and was Trump's running mate in the 2020 election, which they lost to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. In June 2023, Pence launched a 2024 presidential bid but withdrew by October.
Understanding Habits: What Catholic Nuns Wear
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Pence has been criticised for his support of modern-day Israel
Mike Pence served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party, Pence has been criticised for his support of modern-day Israel.
Pence's support for Israel has been linked to his Christian faith. In 2020, Pence addressed thousands of Christians at the Christians United for Israel's 12th annual summit, stating:
> "Like all of you, my passion for Israel springs from my Christian faith. The songs of the land and the people of Israel were the anthems of my youth. As for me and my house, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all who call her home."
Pence's comments have led some to question whether his views and policies towards Israel are shaped by his evangelical Christian faith. Critics worry that his policies are driven by evangelical beliefs that certain conditions—like Jewish control over the West Bank and sovereignty in Jerusalem—fulfill biblical prophecies. Pence's trip to Israel in 2018, ostensibly aimed at reviving the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace, further fuelled these concerns.
However, Republicans and conservatives argue that it is reductive to assume that Pence's views are solely shaped by his faith. Matt Brooks, the director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, stated:
> "They always highlight the fact that he's an evangelical, as if that’s a pejorative when in fact [Pence and other evangelicals] are motivated first and foremost by shared values with Israel."
Pence himself has emphasised that the alliance between Israel and America is not just founded on faith but also on common values like freedom and democracy. At the Christians United for Israel summit, he asserted that "America stands with Israel" and that the two nations confront their enemies together, defending their shared values.
Pence's support for Israel, while praised by some, has indeed drawn criticism and sparked concerns about the potential influence of his evangelical beliefs on US policy.
Meatless Fridays: Catholic Abstinence Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
He has a reputation as a culture warrior
Mike Pence is a lawyer and politician who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he served as governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017 and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana from 2001 to 2013.
Pence was raised in an Irish Catholic family and served as an altar boy. However, he left the Catholic Church while in college and became an evangelical, born-again Christian. Pence has been described as a "culture warrior" due to his strong conservative Christian beliefs and his reputation for legalizing discrimination and acting against women and marginalized people.
One example of Pence's controversial stances is his refusal to eat alone with a woman who is not his wife or to attend events where alcohol is served without his wife being present. This stance raised eyebrows even among evangelicals and led to a student walkout at Notre Dame University, a Catholic school. Pence has also been criticized for his support of the military and his prioritization of reducing veteran unemployment.
As vice president, Pence was particularly vocal about abortion, calling it "the most pressing moral issue of our time." He cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate to allow states to withhold funds from abortion providers and made a surprise appearance at the March for Life in Washington, DC, in 2017 and 2019. Pence also touted his role in appointing three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
In addition to his controversial stances on social issues, Pence has also been criticized for his use of a personal AOL email account to conduct official business as governor. In 2016, hackers compromised the account and used it to send fraudulent emails. While Pence's use of a private email account for state business is not prohibited by Indiana law, his actions have raised concerns about the security of sensitive information.
St. George's Chapel: Catholic or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Mike Pence was raised Catholic and was a Roman Catholic in his childhood and early adulthood. However, while in college, he left the Catholic Church and became an evangelical, born-again Christian.
Mike Pence is now an evangelical Protestant. He has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order".
Although no longer Catholic, Mike Pence has addressed Catholic conferences, urging attendees to help build a movement to reclaim faith and traditional values.
Mike Pence is a religious man who has stressed religious freedom throughout his political career. He has also been particularly vocal about abortion, calling it "the most pressing moral issue of our time".
