Vance: Catholic faith and rigid US migration policy compatible

US Vice President JD Vance believes his Catholic faith is compatible with the US government's rigid migration policy, which he supports. "I believe the Catholic Church recognises that we need border control. This is very clearly formulated in Catholic teaching: Nations have sovereignty and are allowed to control their borders, " Vance said on the "Pod Force One" podcast of the "New York Post". At the same time, the government is endeavouring to respect the dignity of migrants. According to Vance, he believes that enforcing the law and respecting human dignity are not mutually exclusive.

With regard to criticism from the Vatican, Vance said that it had followed "a certain line" on migration, particularly under Pope Francis (2013-2025). "I try to interpret these things favourably, partly because I'm still a new Catholic," said the Vice President, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 and is considered a key agitator in the Trump administration.

Shortly after the start of the administration in January, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops had already criticised the measures announced by the government on migration policy. The enforcement of immigration regulations in sensitive places such as schools, places of worship, social services and healthcare facilities runs counter to the common good, the bishops declared at the time. In June, the President of the Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, then spoke out clearly against Trump's approach to immigration policy: "The mass detention and deportation of our neighbours, friends and family members based solely on their immigration status represents a profound social crisis that no person of good will can remain silent about." (stz)