Christopher Hale writes:

On Sunday, Vance launched a scathing critique of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops—an umbrella organization of the bishops who lead the Catholic Church in America—accusing them of having financial motivations for their opposition to the administration’s new immigration policy, which permits ICE raids in churches and schools….

The bishops, long defenders of immigrant rights and human dignity, rightly condemned the new policy as a violation of sacred spaces that would instill fear among vulnerable populations and erode trust between pastors and their communities….

Pope Francis—who Catholics like Vance honor as the vicar of Jesus Christ—has highlighted the plight of migrants as a tragedy of our time, urging global solidarity and humane treatment of those fleeing violence and poverty.

Meanwhile, the MAGA movement’s rhetoric and policies demonize immigrants, equating them with crime and economic instability. The administration’s decision to target sacred spaces for immigration enforcement exemplifies this stark contrast with Catholic values.

While the MAGA movement claims to champion religious liberty, it increasingly conflates faith with partisanship and undermines the moral authority of religious leaders who challenge its agenda. By accusing the bishops of prioritizing financial interests over spiritual principles, Vance’s remarks signaled a troubling willingness to dismiss the Church’s moral teachings when they conflict with MAGA priorities….

The Gospel’s beatitudes—blessed are the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers—stand in stark opposition to the movement’s rhetoric of anger and grievance.

The MAGA movement’s economic priorities, which favor tax cuts for the wealthy and deregulation, conflict with Catholic social teaching’s emphasis on economic justice and the dignity of labor.

Similarly, MAGA’s embrace of nationalism—encapsulated in the “America First” mantra—contradicts the Church’s vision of a global human family united in solidarity and mutual care.