Vice President Vance presents a Christian vision of politics

[Michie]

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, America’s second Catholic vice president, laid out a distinctly Christian vision for American politics in a speech this week, declaring that “the only thing that has truly served as an anchor of the United States of America is that we have been and, by the grace of God, we always will be a Christian nation.”

Continued below.

Vice President Vance presents a Christian vision of politics

In a speech this week, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, America’s second Catholic vice president, laid out a distinctly Christian vision for American politics.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[Richard T]

I read the article yet still wonder whose Christianity we are talking about? Like on immigration, is splitting families up the "Christian way?" Is blowing up alleged drug smugglers boats Christian or over the top as international law would suggest? The problem I see is that the morality that Vance seeks to advance might be contradictory to true Christianity. His position working for venture capitalists pushing Crypto even from the white house seems to be questionable. So does his recent shift to Catholicism, where he goes against that faith in many areas when it comes to policy being implemented. So it seems like a waffling Christian that wants a Christian thought that aligns with his own views and not a denomination? Perhaps he should start a denomination if he knows theology well enough but I certainly do not think he is always right on Christian public policy. Plus, the USA government serves more than just the Christian population.
Now you can say I am alarmist. Perhaps, but can you force people to be free? Let's consider divorce and remarriage. Perhaps we could outlaw divorce in the name of God as at least one nation does? Or should we follow Catholic teaching in regards to who can remarry in the church? When the church has lost its salt, the attempt to inflate a few issues of importance seem somewhat meaningless, especially if it is coming from government.

 

[Valletta]

I read the article yet still wonder whose Christianity we are talking about? Like on immigration, is splitting families up the "Christian way?" Is blowing up alleged drug smugglers boats Christian or over the top as international law would suggest? The problem I see is that the morality that Vance seeks to advance might be contradictory to true Christianity. His position working for venture capitalists pushing Crypto even from the white house seems to be questionable. So does his recent shift to Catholicism, where he goes against that faith in many areas when it comes to policy being implemented. So it seems like a waffling Christian that wants a Christian thought that aligns with his own views and not a denomination? Perhaps he should start a denomination if he knows theology well enough but I certainly do not think he is always right on Christian public policy. Plus, the USA government serves more than just the Christian population.
Now you can say I am alarmist. Perhaps, but can you force people to be free? Let's consider divorce and remarriage. Perhaps we could outlaw divorce in the name of God as at least one nation does? Or should we follow Catholic teaching in regards to who can remarry in the church? When the church has lost its salt, the attempt to inflate a few issues of importance seem somewhat meaningless, especially if it is coming from government.

Try not to judge others as to how well they are keeping their faith. Many, many Christians are pro-life. support the right of a country to defend itself against terrorism, and are compelled to rescue the victims of human trafficking and stop violent criminals from having new victims.

 

[Richard T]

Try not to judge others as to how well they are keeping their faith. Many, many Christians are pro-life. support the right of a country to defend itself against terrorism, and are compelled to rescue the victims of human trafficking and stop violent criminals from having new victims.

Yes, that is good advice and I try to follow it. However, switching doctrines from Protestant to Catholic, then ignoring even Catholic teachings seems to be a red flag to me. I was primarily judging some of his Christian policy prescriptions and experience. You can have great faith in God, yet be a novice in matters of policy. I would guess that most ministers are that way. They may know the bible well but are unable to distinguish some of the nuances of how that can be carried out in a legal framework of government or even business.

To me there are better candidates in the GOP. Still, if Trump policies are successful though for most Americans, Vance likely is the heir apparent. We will know a good part of that answer by next November, if not sooner. So I guess no worries to any side of this debate. The only question that really counts is will Trump be successful not just in policy but in getting a people especially independents to rate him higher.

 

[Valletta]

Yes, that is good advice and I try to follow it. However, switching doctrines from Protestant to Catholic, then ignoring even Catholic teachings seems to be a red flag to me. I was primarily judging some of his Christian policy prescriptions and experience. You can have great faith in God, yet be a novice in matters of policy. I would guess that most ministers are that way. They may know the bible well but are unable to distinguish some of the nuances of how that can be carried out in a legal framework of government or even business.

To me there are better candidates in the GOP. Still, if Trump policies are successful though for most Americans, Vance likely is the heir apparent. We will know a good part of that answer by next November, if not sooner. So I guess no worries to any side of this debate. The only question that really counts is will Trump be successful not just in policy but in getting a people especially independents to rate him higher.

I don't know what Catholic teachings you think J.D. supposed ignores.

 

[Richard T]

Th0ugh just an opinion piece it is quite factual in its presentation. How Trump and Vance have inverted Catholic teaching on love, peace and justice - ABC Religion & Ethics
AI on part of Vance's journey.

• ?Pentecostal Period: As a teenager, Vance reconnected with his biological father, who had become a devout Pentecostal. While staying with his father on weekends, Vance attended a large Pentecostal church in southeastern Ohio.
  • He described himself as a "devoted convert" during this time.
  • His practice included rejecting the theory of evolution and embracing millennialist beliefs, such as the idea that the world would end in 2007.
• Atheism: After joining the Marine Corps in 2003 and later attending Ohio State University, he entered a period of "angry atheism". He later wrote that he felt he had to choose between his intellect and his faith.
• Conversion to Catholicism: His journey back to faith began at Yale Law School and culminated in his 2019 conversion to Catholicism, which he viewed as a more "intellectual" way to be a Christian. "

So from a seemingly weird brand of Pentecostalism, then an atheist, to a more philosophical Catholic Vance then takes a particular brand of Catholic scholarship and borrows from it, to form his world view. In His Own Words: J.D. Vance On Why He Converted to Catholicism
I don't want to judge his current faith, as I am in no position to do that. From my own experience I do not see an intellectual path to Jesus though I suppose it is possible. His faith is his own and I hope it is strong. However, given its uniqueness, is it wrong to suggest I would prefer a more mainstream Christian like Pence or even Shapiro's Jewish faith? (The latter I would have to learn more about). I admit though that I would accept a more secular leader as long as they accepted the principles of religious freedom and had great ideas for better equality, higher GDP growth, lower deficits and inflation and a solid foreign policy that does not irritate out allies while deterring most enemies. Perhaps that is asking too much?

 

[Valletta]

Th0ugh just an opinion piece it is quite factual in its presentation. How Trump and Vance have inverted Catholic teaching on love, peace and justice - ABC Religion & Ethics

Actually it's an extremely politically biased article, referring to conservatives as MAGA "faithful." The article addresses the subject of immigration as if the Biden administration never flooded our country with over ten million people, many of them unvetted and who turned out to be criminals, in less than four years. Nowhere in Catholic teaching is it said that Americans or anyone else should implement a policy that promotes human trafficking and drugs and other criminal activity.