Ethan Walker
Former vice president Mike Pence has described himself as a born-again, evangelical Catholic. He was raised Catholic and attended an evangelical megachurch, and has supported causes important to evangelicals. Pence has also been vocal about abortion, calling it the most pressing moral issue of our time. He has been popular with conservative evangelical Christians, not just as vice president but also as a US congressman and governor of Indiana.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Born-again, evangelical Catholic |
| Political Party | Republican |
| Vice President of the United States | From 2017 to 2021 |
| Governor of Indiana | From 2013 to 2017 |
| Member of the United States House of Representatives | From 2001 to 2013 |
| Chairman of the House Republican Conference | From 2009 to 2011 |
| Support for Trump | Refused to support Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election results |
| Criticism of Trump | Criticized Trump's handling of the Capitol riots |
| Presidential Campaign | Filed paperwork to run for President in 2024, but ended his campaign due to low polling numbers |
| Family | Married to Karen Pence since 1985 with three children: Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey |
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What You'll Learn
Mike Pence is a born-again, evangelical Catholic
Mike Pence, the former vice president of the United States, is a born-again, evangelical Catholic. He was born in 1959 in Columbus, Indiana, and raised in an Irish Catholic family that revered the Kennedys. Pence served as an altar boy and attended parochial school in Columbus. While studying at Hanover College, he renewed his Christian faith, which remains the driving force in his life.
Pence and his wife, Karen, were married in a Catholic church. However, they also attended an evangelical megachurch, Grace Evangelical Church, in the 1990s. By 2013, they were looking for a new church. Pence has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order," and as a "pretty ordinary Christian." He has also stated that he made a "commitment to Christ," crediting his faith for his success in politics.
As a politician, Pence has been a vocal supporter of conservative evangelical Christian causes. He has opposed abortion, calling it "the most pressing moral issue of our time," and supported a national 15-week abortion ban. He has also opposed federal spending on embryonic stem cell research and pushed for a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. Pence's advocacy for these issues has made him popular with conservative evangelical Christians, both during his time as vice president and in his previous roles as a congressman and governor of Indiana.
In addition to his domestic policy stances, Pence has also linked his support for Israel to his faith. He has stated that his "Christian faith compels [him] to cherish the state of Israel." This stance may have been a factor in his selection as Donald Trump's running mate in the 2016 presidential election, as it could have helped shore up Trump's relationship with Jewish voters.
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Pence attended an evangelical megachurch
Mike Pence, the former vice president of the United States, has been described as a "born-again, evangelical Catholic". He has also described himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order". Pence was raised Catholic, serving as an altar boy and attending parochial school in Columbus, Indiana. He later attended an evangelical megachurch, Grace Evangelical Church, in the 1990s. By 2013, he and his family were "kind of looking for a church".
Pence's faith has been a driving force in his life and political career. He has supported causes important to evangelicals, such as opposing abortion rights, federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, and same-sex marriage. He has also been a strong advocate for Israel, linking his support to his Christian faith. 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 in 2017 to allow states to withhold funds from abortion providers and addressed the annual March for Life in Washington, DC, becoming the first vice president to do so.
Pence has also stirred controversy with his religious views. He supported Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which would have allowed businesses and individuals to refuse service to certain people based on their religious beliefs. Additionally, he clashed with the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis when he halted state support for refugee relocation efforts, citing security concerns. The archdiocese defied him by welcoming a Syrian family to the city.
Despite his Catholic roots, Pence's attendance at an evangelical megachurch and his strong evangelical stances have made him popular with conservative evangelical Christians, both during his time as vice president and in his previous roles as a congressman and governor of Indiana.
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Pence has been married to Karen Pence since 1985
Mike Pence has been married to his wife, Karen Pence, since 1985. The couple met in 1983 while Mike was serving as a young associate pastor at a church in Indiana. At the time, Karen was teaching at an elementary school near the church. They were introduced by a mutual friend who thought they would be a perfect match, and indeed they were!
Their relationship blossomed as they discovered shared values and a deep commitment to their Christian faith. Mike and Karen were married on June 8, 1985, in a traditional Catholic ceremony. This is an interesting aspect, as some sources indicate that Mike Pence was raised Catholic but later converted to Evangelical Protestantism. However, his marriage to Karen in a Catholic church and their decision to raise their children in the Catholic faith suggest a continued connection to Catholicism.
Together, Mike and Karen have three children: Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey. As a family, they have lived in Indiana for most of their married life, with Mike's political career taking them to Washington, D.C., during his vice presidency. The Pences are also proud grandparents to several grandchildren.
Throughout their marriage, Karen has been a constant support to Mike during his political career. She has often joined him on the campaign trail and played an active role in his various political endeavors, including his time as Governor of Indiana and, later, as Vice President of the United States. Karen is known for her own commitment to education and art, serving as an advocate for art therapy and teaching art herself.
Their marriage has been described as a strong partnership, with Mike crediting Karen for her unwavering support and positive influence on his life and career. The couple's shared faith has also been a cornerstone of their relationship, with Mike stating that his marriage to Karen has been "the greatest blessing of my life."
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Pence was the 48th vice president of the United States
Mike Pence, the 48th vice president of the United States, has had a long and notable political career. He served as Vice President from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. Before that, he represented Indiana's 6th district in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013 and served as the 50th Governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017. Born in Indiana, Pence has deep roots in the state and has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order." While Pence has always been closely associated with evangelical Christianity and the evangelical movement within the Republican Party, there have been questions and speculations about a potential Catholic past.
Speculations about Mike Pence's religious background, particularly a rumoured Catholic past, have circulated during his political career. These speculations are not surprising given his close association with Catholic educational institutions. Pence attended elementary school at a Catholic school, Our Lady of Lourdes, in Indiana. He then enrolled in the Scecina Memorial High School, a Catholic institution, before transferring to a public school, Columbus North High School. The fact that Pence began his education in Catholic schools might have contributed to the assumptions or misunderstandings about his religious affiliation.
However, despite his early Catholic education, Pence and his family are firmly affiliated with evangelical Christianity. Pence is a born-again Christian and has been a devout evangelical throughout his adult life. He frequently attends evangelical churches and has been a member of various evangelical congregations. Pence's wife, Karen Pence, is also an evangelical Christian, and their marriage has been blessed by an evangelical pastor. So, while Pence's childhood included a Catholic education, his personal and family religious practices have been firmly rooted in evangelicalism.
The association with Catholicism also arises from Pence's close collaborations with Catholic organizations and his advocacy for certain Catholic causes. For example, Pence has worked with Catholic groups on anti-abortion initiatives and has supported Catholic charities and relief organizations. These collaborations might contribute to perceptions of a Catholic affiliation. Additionally, Pence's strong stance on social issues, particularly his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, aligns with the teachings of the Catholic Church and could further fuel assumptions of a Catholic background.
In summary, while Vice President Mike Pence did receive a Catholic school education during his formative years, his religious affiliation has always been with evangelical Christianity. His policies and stances may align with some Catholic teachings, but this is more a result of shared values among social conservatives. Pence's political career and policy decisions have been significantly influenced by his evangelical faith, and he has consistently identified himself as an evangelical both before and during his vice presidency. So, while there may be some Catholic connections in his past and through his collaborations, Pence's religious identity is firmly rooted in evangelicalism.
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Pence was the first vice president to address the annual March for Life in Washington, DC
Mike Pence, the 48th vice president of the United States, served under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021. Pence has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order". He has also referred to himself as a "pretty ordinary Christian" and a "born-again, evangelical Catholic".
Pence was raised Catholic and attended an evangelical megachurch later in his life. He was also an altar boy and went to parochial school in Columbus, Indiana. Pence and his wife, Karen, were married in a Catholic church, and they attended Grace Evangelical Church in the 1990s.
Pence has been a vocal opponent of abortion, calling it "the most pressing moral issue of our time". In 2017, he cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate to allow states to withhold funds from abortion providers. He also advocated for a national 15-week abortion ban and supported Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allowed individuals and businesses to refuse service based on religious beliefs.
In January 2017, Pence became the first vice president to address the annual March for Life in Washington, DC. He made a surprise appearance at the march again in 2019, expressing his support for President Trump's anti-abortion stance. Pence's participation in the March for Life reflects his strong religious beliefs and conservative values, which have influenced his political career and policy decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mike Pence was raised Catholic and attended an evangelical megachurch later in his life. He has described himself as a "born-again, evangelical Catholic".
Mike Pence is a member of the Republican Party. He has served as the chairman of the Republican Study Committee and House Republican Conference Chairman.
Mike Pence was born into an Irish Catholic family and attended parochial school in Columbus, Indiana. He later became a born-again Christian while in college.
Yes, Mike Pence has served in various political positions, including governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017, and as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013.
Mike Pence is strongly opposed to abortion. He has described it as "the most pressing moral issue of our time." He has also voted to allow states to withhold funds from abortion providers and supported legislation restricting abortion rights.
