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The conflict began when Vance, a Catholic convert who assumed the vice presidency in January 2025, appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation on January 26. He criticized the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for opposing new Trump administration directives, including the rescinding of a policy that had restricted immigration arrests at “sensitive locations” like churches. Vance suggested that the bishops’ pro-immigrant stance was financially motivated, claiming they received over $100 million to “resettle illegal immigrants.” He argued that this funding undermined their humanitarian claims, implying that the bishops were more concerned with their “bottom line” than with compassion or adherence to “common sense immigration enforcement.” Vance, framing himself as a “devout Catholic,” further justified his position by invoking the medieval Catholic concept of ordo amoris (order of love), asserting that it prioritizes care for family, neighbors, and citizens over foreigners—a theological underpinning for the administration’s “America First” approach.
Cardinal Dolan, a charismatic and influential figure in the American Catholic hierarchy, responded forcefully on his SiriusXM show, Conversations with Cardinal Dolan, on January 28, 2025. He called Vance’s remarks “scurrilous,” “very nasty,” and “not true,” expressing personal hurt and disappointment. Dolan refuted the financial accusation, stating, “You think we make money caring for the immigrants? We’re losing it hand over fist.” He emphasized that the Church’s work with migrants—often through Catholic Charities and in collaboration with secular authorities like mayors and governors—is a “work of mercy,” not a profit-driven enterprise. Government grants, he explained, fall short of covering expenses, with the shortfall offset by private donations. Dolan’s defense was not just a rebuttal but a plea for recognition of the Church’s long-standing commitment to aiding the vulnerable, regardless of legal status.
The dispute escalated as Vance doubled down on his stance. In a Fox News appearance, he reiterated the ordo amoris argument, saying, “You love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country. Then after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world.” This interpretation drew support from some conservative Catholic thinkers, like Harvard law professor Adrian Vermeule, who praised Vance’s use of political theology as a sign of a “postliberal order.” However, others, including Jesuit theologian David Hollenbach, countered that Vance misread Catholic doctrine, citing the parable of the Good Samaritan as evidence of the Church’s call to aid strangers in need, irrespective of proximity or nationality.
The timing of the feud added layers of complexity. Dolan, who will turn75 on February 6, 2025, had just submitted his mandatory resignation to Pope Francis, as required by Church law, though he remains in office until a successor is named. Meanwhile, Vance’s comments came less than a week after Dolan delivered the invocation at Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, where the two shared a stage—an event that briefly suggested Catholic unity in the new administration. That unity quickly unraveled, exposing tensions not only between Dolan and Vance but also within the broader Catholic landscape, as figures like USCCB president Archbishop Timothy Broglio and progressive Cardinal Robert McElroy navigated their own responses to Trump’s policies.
This clash reflects broader fault lines. Vance, aligned with a rising postliberal Catholic movement, sees the state as a tool to enforce Christian values, including restrictive immigration policies. Dolan, while conservative on many issues, upholds the Church’s traditional emphasis on charity and hospitality, even amid political pressure. The debate over ordo amoris—whether it justifies national prioritization or demands universal compassion—underscores a theological rift with real-world stakes, as Catholic Charities and the USCCB face scrutiny over their refugee programs. For now, Dolan hopes Vance’s remarks were an “uncharacteristic moment” from a man he still views as thoughtful, while Vance shows no sign of retreating, leaving their standoff as a vivid illustration of faith and politics in collision.
