JD Vance clashes with the Catholic Church on migrant policies

By Addison Brewer-Hay

Vice President JD Vance claimed that a concept from medieval Catholic theology, “ordo amoris” in Latin, justifies the Trump administration’s decision to relocate migrants, according to the Associated Press. He said the phrase emphasized the priorities of family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens, and lastly, all others. 

Several scholars say Vance is promoting a misleading definition of the phrase and that Catholic teaching prioritizes those in need, per AP News.

However, Vance’s statement still received support from others, most prominently from a Catholic movement called postliberalism. The movement combines social conservatism with the belief of using government to promote Christian values. The leaders have thus commended the Trump administration’s changes to federal funding and feel their interests better align with those of postliberalism.

While several bishops initially supported the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to limit abortion and remove funding for gender transitions, conflicts have risen in D.C. over shifting political policies. Democrats Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, both Catholics in favor of abortion rights and gender-affirming care, have left office, and political priorities have changed as a result.

Trump nominated conservative Catholic activist Brian Burch as Vatican ambassador, while Pope Francis appointed progressive Cardinal Robert McElroy to Washington. Following this decision, Vance criticized U.S. bishops for their immigration stance, accusing them of taking $100 million to resettle undocumented immigrants. In response, Cardinal Dolan condemned Vance’s remarks as harmful on a SiriusXM show.

Trump shut down the bishop’s refugee program, and Dolan shared that the grants were funded by private donations. “You think we make money on it? We’re losing it hand over fist,” Dolan said.

However, Vance has stood by his “odo amoris” justification for Trump’s migrant restrictions.

According to AP News, Immigration is not the only issue that divides high-level Catholics in Washington and elsewhere — there also are sharp divisions over LGBTQ+ inclusion. While some stand in support of Trump’s decision to define sex as male or female, others advocate for better LGBTQ+ inclusive policies.