“Communion” arrives from Harper this week — and the convert who lectured Francis and Leo XIV is underwater with the very Catholics the GOP sent him to win.
JD Vance lost me when he said Pope Leo XIV should “be careful” when he talks about theology. I trust Pope Leo’s knowledge of theology a whole lot more than JD Vance’s knowledge of Catholicism.
Vance did not actually have the Appalachian childhood he claimed in his Hillbilly Elegy. He grew up in a suburban setting, two generations removed from Appalachia.
I’m not sure I consider myself Catholic anymore. I was a seminarian at the North American College in Rome and at the Gregorian University over 30 years ago when Timothy Dolan was the rector of the NAC. My perspective has changed a lot since then, and I’m certainly not one to lecture others on what kind of Catholic they should be. But to be honest, I see JD Vance as purely an opportunist, and truly a lost soul in terms of self-awareness and integrity. To not have even gone through OCIA and then to have the audacity to lecture the pope tells me he is about as Catholic as Donald Trump, which is to say not at all. It is true I cannot see into his heart, but I see his actions and they don’t bear much resemblance to teachings of the Church. In this sense, Vance is similar to the evangelicals that like to proclaim their salvation and righteousness, but meanwhile don’t follow the inconvenient teachings of Jesus about the poor, the outcast, the immigrant etc. And in the book, putting Peter Thiel in a positive light tells you all you need to know. It is Thiel that is out of communion with the Church.
I’m not sure I consider myself Catholic anymore. I was a seminarian at the North American College in Rome and at the Gregorian University over 30 years ago when Timothy Dolan was the rector of the NAC. My perspective has changed a lot since then, and I’m certainly not one to lecture others on what kind of Catholic they should be. But to be honest, I see JD Vance as purely an opportunist, and truly a lost soul in terms of self-awareness and integrity. To not have even gone through OCIA and then to have the audacity to lecture the pope tells me he is about as Catholic as Donald Trump, which is to say not at all. It is true I cannot see into his heart, but I see his actions and they don’t resemble the teachings of the Church.
I will not be reading the book. Over and over again, JD Vance has demonstrated that he says what he believes certain people want to hear. Listening to many things he has said, it's difficult for me to believe that he has actually read The Gospels. I am not going to judge Vance's faith. I certainly don't know what is in his heart and spirit. But I do know that I have no reason to trust anything he has to say about religion or anything else for that matter.
The Wall Street Journal published an excerpt of Vance’s new book that was beautiful. Ledger or no ledger of his “got it right” and “got it wrong” moments in the book’s pages, and cover art foibles or not, Vice President Vance undoubtedly chose the right title that I’m sure His Holiness Pope Leo XIV agrees with as a theological and mystical truth—Communion. As Christians baptized as one into the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, we are all in this together in communion with each other and Our Lord. I pray that Communion will bear fruits of the Holy Spirit, like humility, peace, and self-control.
Too bad he doesn't actually believe in or practice that communion with his fellow human beings, but is instead an active disciple of Curtis Yarvin and Peter Thiel.
There is nothing whatever that is "beautiful" in Vance's book. Like himself, the book is a chimera of clever and utterly false piety, built on blatant opportunism for political gain, and lies. Satan has been known for millennia as the "prince of liars," and his followers are liars and deceivers as well. I wouldn't wait around for Vance's real conversion; he's already sold what remains of his puny little soul to Trump.
This is a wonderful analysis of Vance, who cuts a very tragic figure I think. He is ruthlessly ambitious, yet deep inside I think there is still someone who at heart wants to do the right thing and wants to reconcile his faith to this ambition. He wants a deal with God on his terms. This is why he wants the Church to bless the policies he espouses. What immediately comes to mind is the story of the rich young man, who approached Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and then follow Him, but the young man went away sad because he was very wealthy and unwilling to part with his riches. Vance speaks warmly about faith, tradition, and Christian civilization.
But when the Church teaches something that demands sacrifice — welcoming the stranger, rejecting unjust war, prioritizing the poor — he pushes back, as if the Church should bend to his political program.
i wouldn’t expect to bea good lawyer who can read the Bible and actually understand it or understand the precepts of the Catholic Church to which he haschosen to belongand actually understand it
One more observation wouldn’t it be appropriate to just excommunicate him sin rather than to continue this public argument I AmNot Catholic but I appreciate the moral clarity of Francis and Leo thfooldoeesntdeserve any more time
JD Vance lost me when he said Pope Leo XIV should “be careful” when he talks about theology. I trust Pope Leo’s knowledge of theology a whole lot more than JD Vance’s knowledge of Catholicism.
Vance did not actually have the Appalachian childhood he claimed in his Hillbilly Elegy. He grew up in a suburban setting, two generations removed from Appalachia.
I’m not sure I consider myself Catholic anymore. I was a seminarian at the North American College in Rome and at the Gregorian University over 30 years ago when Timothy Dolan was the rector of the NAC. My perspective has changed a lot since then, and I’m certainly not one to lecture others on what kind of Catholic they should be. But to be honest, I see JD Vance as purely an opportunist, and truly a lost soul in terms of self-awareness and integrity. To not have even gone through OCIA and then to have the audacity to lecture the pope tells me he is about as Catholic as Donald Trump, which is to say not at all. It is true I cannot see into his heart, but I see his actions and they don’t bear much resemblance to teachings of the Church. In this sense, Vance is similar to the evangelicals that like to proclaim their salvation and righteousness, but meanwhile don’t follow the inconvenient teachings of Jesus about the poor, the outcast, the immigrant etc. And in the book, putting Peter Thiel in a positive light tells you all you need to know. It is Thiel that is out of communion with the Church.
Vance converted to Catholicism for political purposes only. Catholic in name only
I’m not sure I consider myself Catholic anymore. I was a seminarian at the North American College in Rome and at the Gregorian University over 30 years ago when Timothy Dolan was the rector of the NAC. My perspective has changed a lot since then, and I’m certainly not one to lecture others on what kind of Catholic they should be. But to be honest, I see JD Vance as purely an opportunist, and truly a lost soul in terms of self-awareness and integrity. To not have even gone through OCIA and then to have the audacity to lecture the pope tells me he is about as Catholic as Donald Trump, which is to say not at all. It is true I cannot see into his heart, but I see his actions and they don’t resemble the teachings of the Church.
I will not be reading the book. Over and over again, JD Vance has demonstrated that he says what he believes certain people want to hear. Listening to many things he has said, it's difficult for me to believe that he has actually read The Gospels. I am not going to judge Vance's faith. I certainly don't know what is in his heart and spirit. But I do know that I have no reason to trust anything he has to say about religion or anything else for that matter.
Whatever is in one's heart manifests itself to one's speech and actions.
The Wall Street Journal published an excerpt of Vance’s new book that was beautiful. Ledger or no ledger of his “got it right” and “got it wrong” moments in the book’s pages, and cover art foibles or not, Vice President Vance undoubtedly chose the right title that I’m sure His Holiness Pope Leo XIV agrees with as a theological and mystical truth—Communion. As Christians baptized as one into the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, we are all in this together in communion with each other and Our Lord. I pray that Communion will bear fruits of the Holy Spirit, like humility, peace, and self-control.
Too bad he doesn't actually believe in or practice that communion with his fellow human beings, but is instead an active disciple of Curtis Yarvin and Peter Thiel.
There is nothing whatever that is "beautiful" in Vance's book. Like himself, the book is a chimera of clever and utterly false piety, built on blatant opportunism for political gain, and lies. Satan has been known for millennia as the "prince of liars," and his followers are liars and deceivers as well. I wouldn't wait around for Vance's real conversion; he's already sold what remains of his puny little soul to Trump.
This is a wonderful analysis of Vance, who cuts a very tragic figure I think. He is ruthlessly ambitious, yet deep inside I think there is still someone who at heart wants to do the right thing and wants to reconcile his faith to this ambition. He wants a deal with God on his terms. This is why he wants the Church to bless the policies he espouses. What immediately comes to mind is the story of the rich young man, who approached Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and then follow Him, but the young man went away sad because he was very wealthy and unwilling to part with his riches. Vance speaks warmly about faith, tradition, and Christian civilization.
But when the Church teaches something that demands sacrifice — welcoming the stranger, rejecting unjust war, prioritizing the poor — he pushes back, as if the Church should bend to his political program.
That is exactly the rich young man’s dilemma:
“I want to follow you, Lord — but not like that.”
Thank you, Mrs Moor. So True
i wouldn’t expect to bea good lawyer who can read the Bible and actually understand it or understand the precepts of the Catholic Church to which he haschosen to belongand actually understand it
One more observation wouldn’t it be appropriate to just excommunicate him sin rather than to continue this public argument I AmNot Catholic but I appreciate the moral clarity of Francis and Leo thfooldoeesntdeserve any more time