Michael Brooks
J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee and Ohio senator, has had a meandering journey to Catholicism. Raised nominally evangelical, he dabbled with atheism and had a drug-using, angry, and troubled youth. He was baptized Catholic in 2019, influenced by his Hindu wife, an admired uncle, Dominicans, and his confirmation saint. He has written extensively about his faith journey in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, and a long essay in the Catholic magazine, The Lamp. While Vance began public life as pro-life, his current position on abortion does not seem to align with Catholic teachings, leading to questions from religious groups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of conversion to Catholicism | 2019 |
| Reason for conversion | Catholicism was the closest expression of his grandmother's Christianity |
| Influenced by | His Hindu wife, an admired uncle, Dominicans, his confirmation saint, and philosopher René Girard |
| Political affiliation | Republican |
| Political views | Trumpist, anti-abortion, pro-economic intervention |
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What You'll Learn
J.D. Vance's conversion to Catholicism in 2019
J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee and Ohio senator, was raised as a nominal evangelical and even dabbled in atheism before his conversion to Catholicism in 2019. He was baptized Catholic in August 2019.
Vance's journey to Catholicism was influenced by several factors. He was raised by his grandmother, whom he called "Mamaw," who believed in Jesus and liked preachers like Billy Graham but disliked what she referred to as "organized religion." Vance's exposure to Catholicism came from his father's large Pentecostal congregation in southwestern Ohio, and he had formed some negative impressions about the faith. He associated Catholics with the worship of Mary, the rejection of Scripture, and the belief that the Antichrist's spiritual adviser would be Catholic. Additionally, Catholicism seemed too formal and impersonal to him, with a majestic depiction of Jesus that didn't resonate with his upbringing.
However, despite his initial hesitancy, Vance began to see Catholicism in a different light. He credits his Hindu wife, Usha, with helping him work through his anger issues and supporting him in his spiritual journey. He also mentions the influence of his admired uncle, who was Catholic, and the guidance of Dominican friars during a period of serious study.
Vance's conversion was ultimately driven by his desire to find a faith that reflected his values. He writes that he slowly began to see Catholicism as the closest expression of the kind of Christianity embodied by his grandmother:
> "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 conversion to Catholicism has influenced his political views as well. He argues for a progressive economic policy rooted in Catholic social teaching, promoting the economic and social well-being of the working class. Additionally, he has shifted his stance on abortion, moving away from his previously robust pro-life position.
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His wife's influence on his conversion
J.D. Vance, the vice-presidential candidate and US Senator from Ohio, is a Catholic convert. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church in August 2019.
Vance has credited his Hindu wife, Usha, with helping him convert to Catholicism. He has acknowledged having problems with anger stemming from his chaotic childhood and the destructive behaviour of his family members. Usha helped him work through his anger issues to become the kind of husband and father he wanted to be. In his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy", Vance wrote:
> "The sad fact is that I couldn’t do it without Usha. Even at my best I’m a delayed explosion — I can be defused, but only with skill and precision."
Vance also felt hesitant about joining the Catholic Church because he wasn’t a Catholic when they got married. In addition, he worried that it would be unfair to Usha, as she hadn't married a Catholic.
Vance's conversion to Catholicism has been a source of controversy, with some accusing him of using his faith for political gain. His Catholic identity has also been called into question due to his defence of policies that clash with papal teachings, such as his support for the deportation of migrants and access to the abortion pill.
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His grandmother's influence on his conversion
J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, is one of the most overtly religious major politicians in America. He was raised in a "conservative, evangelical" branch of Protestantism and was largely brought up by his grandmother, whom he called "Mamaw". Mamaw was a woman of deep but de-institutionalized faith who believed in Jesus and liked Billy Graham but disliked what she called "organized religion". She rarely attended church unless she was back home in Kentucky.
Vance's first real exposure to an institutional church came through his father's large Pentecostal congregation in southwestern Ohio. However, he knew a few things about Catholicism and believed that Catholics worshipped Mary and rejected the legitimacy of Scripture. Despite his initial impressions, Vance began to see Catholicism as the closest expression of his grandmother's kind of Christianity. He writes:
> "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 journey to Catholicism was gradual, with no "aha" moments, but he acknowledges that his Hindu wife, Usha, played a significant role in his conversion. He also credits a few informal conversations with Dominican friars, which led to a more serious period of study with one in particular.
Vance's conversion to Catholicism has influenced his sociopolitical positions. He argues for a progressive economic policy that has deep roots in American Catholicism and promotes the economic and social well-being of the working class. Additionally, he has expressed opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and gun control.
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His Catholic views on abortion
J.D. Vance, the vice president of the United States, is a Catholic who was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church in August 2019. He has written and spoken extensively about his faith journey, including his conversion to Catholicism, in his memoir and various essays.
Vance's views on abortion have evolved over time. He began public life with a robust pro-life stance, opposing abortion and supporting Texas' law banning abortion. In an interview with Spectrum News 1, he stated, "I think in Texas they're trying to make it easier for unborn babies to be born," and when asked about abortion in cases of rape and incest, he emphasized that "two wrongs don't make a right."
However, his position shifted during his political career. In October 2022, he expressed support for "reasonable exceptions," including allowing a pregnant 10-year-old girl to have an abortion. Additionally, he has faced criticism from some pro-lifers for his compromises on the issue after being identified as a potential running mate for President Donald Trump.
Vance has defended his stance by arguing that pro-lifers need to become more politically savvy to save the lives of unborn babies, given that most voters support abortion in the majority of cases. He has also stated that he wants to save as many babies as possible and that the pro-life movement should focus on changing minds through sustained, long-term efforts.
While Vance's views on abortion have evolved, he still identifies as pro-life and continues to hold conservative positions on social issues, including abortion, aligning with his Catholic faith.
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His Catholic views on economic policy
J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee and Ohio senator, was raised as a Protestant and became a Catholic in 2019. He has written extensively about his life in faith, including a mega-selling memoir and a long essay describing his journey to Catholicism.
Vance's Catholic views on economic policy are influenced by his interpretation of Catholic social teaching. He argues for a politics that is willing to intervene in the economy to promote the economic and social well-being of the working class. In an interview with Matthew Schmitz for First Things, Vance stated:
> "There's an entire Christian moral and economic worldview that is completely cut out of modern American politics, and I think it's important to try to bring that back. The core Christian insight into politics is that life is inherently dignified and valuable. If you actually believe that, you want certain legal protections for the most vulnerable people in your society, but you also want to ensure that workers get a fair wage when they do a fair job."
Vance's views on economic policy are shaped by his belief that Catholicism prioritises community and fitting into a grander plan, rather than individualism and the free market. This perspective may explain his coolness about tax rises, as he considers a model of "illiberal democracy" exemplified by Viktor Orbán's Hungary.
Vance's interpretation of Catholic social teaching also influences his stance on abortion. He began his public life as pro-life, supporting Texas' law banning abortion. However, his position has evolved, and he now supports "reasonable exceptions," including allowing a pregnant 10-year-old girl to have an abortion.
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Frequently asked questions
JD Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019. He was baptised Catholic in August 2019.
Before converting to Catholicism, Vance was raised nominally evangelical and then became an atheist.
Vance's conversion to Catholicism was influenced by his Hindu wife, Usha, and his grandmother, whom he called "Mamaw". He also credits his confirmation saint, an admired uncle, and Dominican friars.
JD Vance's Catholic faith has influenced his political views, particularly his support for economic policies that promote the well-being of the working class. However, he has faced questions about how his current position on abortion squares with his Catholic faith, as he previously held a robust pro-life stance.
JD Vance's Catholicism aligns with the religious shift within the MAGA movement towards Catholicism. His faith has led him to embrace a more community-oriented and socially conservative ideology, which resonates with the values of many Catholic voters.
