NFL Under Fire for Anti-Catholicism Allegations over Harrison Butker’s Speech
A prominent Catholic advocacy group, CatholicVote, has strongly criticized the National Football League (NFL) for its alleged distancing from kicker Harrison Butker following his faith-filled commencement speech.
Butker, a devout Catholic, delivered a speech at Benedictine University, where he expressed his disapproval of President Joe Biden’s pro-abortion stance and delved into other contentious political topics like in vitro fertilization (IVF), diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In response to Butker’s speech, the NFL released a statement reiterating its commitment to inclusion and stating that Butker’s views were not representative of the league as an organization. This prompted CatholicVote to pen a letter to the NFL, questioning its commitment to genuine diversity and inclusion.
The group inquired whether the NFL’s inclusion efforts encompassed Catholics, pro-life Americans, mothers, and those who adhered to traditional moral beliefs. CatholicVote also drew attention to the rising backlash against Butker, which included criticism from the wife of an LA Rams quarterback, who deemed his speech as espousing “dangerous gender ideologies.”
“The View” program also weighed in, characterizing Butker’s religious beliefs as “cult-like” and suggesting he seek therapy.
Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote, vehemently condemned the treatment of Butker, describing it as “the worst kind of anti-Catholic bigotry” and emphasizing that it could not be tolerated.
CatholicVote lauded Butker’s speech as “courageous” and encouraged Catholics to uphold their faith’s high ideals. They emphasized that these ideals were widely held by countless Americans, including millions of NFL fans and customers.
The group expressed hope that the NFL did not intend to ostracize Catholics or individuals who held basic moral principles. They invoked the famous quote from NBA star Michael Jordan, “Catholics watch NFL games, too.”
As of now, the NFL has not responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter, nor to CatholicVote’s letter.
