JD Vance Has Blistering Response For Catholic Bishops Who Criticized ICE Raids In Churches: ‘Worried About Their Bottom Line’

Vice President JD Vance responded strongly to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops after it criticized a rule change under the Trump administration that permits ICE to conduct raids in churches and schools.

The religious organization condemned the rule last week, arguing that it transforms “places of care, healing, and solace into places of fear and uncertainty for those in need,” and warned it jeopardizes “the trust between pastors” and “the people they serve.”

Speaking on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” during an interview that aired on Sunday, Vance, 40, expressed his dismay at the statement, saying, “As a practicing Catholic, I was actually heartbroken by that statement.”

He continued, “I think that the US 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 then pointedly criticized the group, adding, “If they’re worried about the humanitarian costs of immigration enforcement, let them talk about the children who have been sex trafficked because of the wide open border of Joe Biden.”

When CBS moderator Margaret Brennan asked if the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was “actively hiding criminals from law enforcement,” Vance sidestepped the question but continued his critique.

He said, “I think the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has, frankly, not been a good partner in common sense immigration enforcement that the American people voted for, and I hope, again, as a devout Catholic, that they’ll do better.”

Brennan also pressed him on whether the strict immigration policy would discourage parents from sending their children to school, and Vance responded bluntly, saying, “I desperately hope it has a chilling effect,” before adding, “on illegal immigrants coming into our country.”

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 after being an evangelical Protestant, was reportedly influenced in his decision by tech billionaire Pete Thiel.

Trump, who was raised Presbyterian and now identifies as a nondenominational Christian, has had prior disputes with Catholic Church leadership, including Pope Francis, who has denounced Trump’s immigration policies. First Lady Melania Trump is a Catholic.

During an inaugural prayer service last week, Trump and Vance were lectured by Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, DC. Budde appealed to the president, asking him to show “mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” particularly transgender individuals.

In the same CBS interview, Vance defended the administration’s stance on law enforcement, stating, “This is a very unique country, and it was founded by some immigrants and some settlers. But just because we were founded by immigrants, doesn’t mean that 240 years later that we have to have the dumbest immigration policy in the world,” underscoring his belief in strong enforcement.

Vance also backed Trump’s decision to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, with a few exceptions, while his administration reviews the matter.

Brennan contested this, pointing out that refugees undergo a “heavily vetted” process, typically taking 18 to 24 months.

Vance countered, “I don’t agree that all these immigrants, or all these refugees, have been properly vetted. In fact, we know that there are cases of people who allegedly were properly vetted and then were literally planning terrorist attacks in our country.”

He further emphasized, “We absolutely cannot unleash thousands of unvetted people into our country,” adding, “I don’t want my children to share a neighborhood with people who are not properly vetted.”

Vance’s extensive interview with “Face the Nation” marked his first major televised interview since becoming vice president.

{Matzav.com}