CatholicVote Sends NFL Letter Defending Harrison Butker; Nuns Associated With College See Things Differently

The recent commencement address that Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gave at Benedictine College split a lot of people, and it seems it is even divisive among various Catholic organizations.

Butker's comments have drawn both praise and criticism from everywhere, but it's interesting to see the polar opposite reactions from groups of Butker's fellow Catholics.

Let's start with CatholicVote, which describes itself on its website as "America's Top Catholic Advocacy Organization."

The group's president, Brian Burch sent a letter addressed to both NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt.

"I am writing today on behalf of millions of Catholics across the United States in support of Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs," Burch wrote. "The growing hatred, intimidation, and now threats of violence against him for publicly defending our deeply-held beliefs represent the worst kind of anti-Catholic bigotry, and cannot be tolerated."

Burch went on to question the league's recent statement condemning Butker.

"A recent statement by the league distancing itself from Butker for his remarks calls into question your commitment to genuine diversity and inclusion," Burch wrote. "Indeed, the NFL proudly boasts that it 'honors and celebrates the broad ranges of human difference among us, while also embracing the commonalities we share, and to provide each individual with the opportunity to achieve their full potential.' Does this inclusion include Catholics, pro-life Americans, mothers, and those who hold to traditional moral beliefs?"

Burch ended the letter with a call for the NFL to not send a message to Catholics that they're not welcome at the NFL table. He then paraphrased Michael Jordan's famous "Republicans wear sneakers, too" quote: "Catholics watch NFL games, too."

Harrison Butker's commencement address at Benedictine College has drawn both support and criticism. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)

Nuns Associated With The College Saw Butker's Comments Differently

Now, obviously, Catholics, like any group, are not monolithic in the way they think.

So, while CatholicVote jumped to Butker's defense, the Sisters of Mt. Scholastica — who, according to Business Insider, call themselves "a founding institution and sponsor of Benedictine College" — did the exact opposite and condemned Butker's comments.

"The sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments in his 2024 Benedictine College commencement address represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we have been so invested," the Sisters said in a statement.

"Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division. One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is the highest calling for a woman. We sisters have dedicated our lives to God and God’s people, including the many women whom we have taught and influenced during the past 160 years."

The statement goes on to say that the Sisters reject "a narrow definition of what it means to be Catholic."

Compelling points all around.

If you had told me at the start of the year that one of the most controversial statements of the year would come from the Chiefs kicker and that nuns would be putting out statements about it, I probably wouldn't have believed it, but wouldn't have been shocked if it happened.

Things are wild these days.