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| Vice President JD Vance File Photo |
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. J.D. Vance, known for his outspoken Catholic faith, expressed disappointment last week over recent statements by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) regarding immigration policy. Vance accused the bishops of prioritizing financial concerns over genuine humanitarian efforts, sparking controversy over the church's role in immigration debates.
“I think the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?” Vance said in an interview Sunday. He further criticized the bishops for opposing what he described as common-sense immigration enforcement measures supported by the American electorate.
The USCCB has yet to comment publicly on Vance's accusations. However, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB, has previously issued statements both supporting humanitarian approaches to immigration and criticizing certain Trump-era executive orders on the issue.
Despite his criticism of the bishops, Vance commended Broglio for applauding Trump administration policies regarding federal handling of gender-related issues, a rare point of agreement between the senator and the bishops' conference.
Defense of Trump Administration Nominees
In the same interview, Vance defended two high-profile Trump administration officials facing scrutiny: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard.
Hegseth was narrowly confirmed last week following allegations of misconduct, including accusations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. The confirmation vote saw three Republican senators—Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)—joining Democrats in opposition. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in his capacity as vice president.
Addressing the controversy, Vance stood by Hegseth, framing the opposition as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Gabbard’s nomination has reignited debates over her controversial 2017 trip to Syria, where she met with President Bashar al-Assad. Critics argue the meeting lent legitimacy to a leader accused of war crimes, while others have accused Gabbard of echoing pro-Russian narratives in her past statements.
“We need to have good intelligence services who keep us safe,” Vance said, defending Gabbard. “Part of that is restoring trust in those services, and we think Tulsi is the right person to do it.”
Gabbard is expected to face tough questioning from senators on both sides of the aisle during her confirmation hearings, which could prove pivotal for the Biden administration’s national security agenda.
Looking Ahead
The tension between Vance and the USCCB highlights the broader ideological divides within American Catholicism, particularly on immigration. Meanwhile, the battles over high-profile Trump administration nominations underscore ongoing partisan divisions in Washington. As Gabbard’s confirmation process unfolds, all eyes will be on how her past actions shape her future in the intelligence community.
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