Catholics
in the United States are deeply polarized regarding Christian nationalism, with
views on Pete Hegseth’s embrace of the ideology ranging from strong support
among conservative factions to severe criticism from church leadership and
progressive Catholics.
Views on
Hegseth and Christian nationalism within the Catholic community include:
Opposition
from Leadership: Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S.
Catholic bishops' Committee on Pro-life Activities, has stated that
"Christian nationalism is opposed to Catholic teaching". He
distinguishes between patriotic love of country and nationalism, which
"can confuse two things that should be distinct: devotion to the nation
and devotion to the Church".
Critics
of Hegseth's "Crusade": Critics argue that Hegseth's
"extremist" views—including praise for the Crusades to "push
Islamism back" in his book American Crusade—threaten religious freedom,
promote xenophobia, and are incompatible with Catholic principles of
inclusivity.
Support
from Conservative/Trad Catholics: A smaller, vocal segment of
"traditionalist" or conservative Catholics has embraced nationalist
ideas, aiming to end the separation of church and state and restore a strong
Christian identity in the US, viewing it as a "Catholic springtime".
Statistical
Breakdown: While two-thirds of white evangelical Protestants support Christian
nationalism, only 30% of white Catholics do, with only 8% considered
"adherents".
Arguments
Against "Soft" Views: Some Catholic commentators reject the
"soft" version of Christian nationalism, arguing that a "clear
combination of Church and State" often results in religious scandal,
atrophy, and a collapse of religiosity, pointing to the historical examples of
Spain, Italy, and Ireland.
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