Religious-right organizations often frame criticism of their political views as attacks on their faith while simultaneously disparaging the beliefs of others.
Ben Johnson, a reporter and editor for the Family Research Council’s news and commentary platform, opened his review of the Democratic National Convention’s first day with a critical take on Cardinal Blase Cupich’s opening prayer. Johnson’s article was titled, “A ‘Christian’ invocation without Jesus or a cross?”
Cardinal Cupich’s prayer highlighted that the U.S. is “a nation composed of every people and culture, united not by ties of blood but by profound aspirations of life, freedom, justice, and unbound hope.” He called for unity and encouraged a collective pursuit of a loving future. This message did not align with what the Family Research Council (FRC) and its right-wing Catholic allies wanted to hear.
Johnson pointed out, “The Democratic National Convention began its first day in prayer — but not one that mentioned the Name of Jesus Christ or displayed the symbol associated with His death and resurrection,” adding that “although Cupich did not mention Jesus, he did, however, quote Pope Francis.”
Pope Francis is often criticized by far-right Catholics and their allies. LifeSite News cited Carlo Maria Viganò, a former archbishop and vocal critic of the pope, who condemned Cupich’s prayer, stating, “The scandalous endorsements of Blase Cupich and the heretical ultra-progressive Jesuits in favor of Harris and Walz and the radical Left woke agenda confirm the blood pact between the globalist Deep State and the … Deep Church.”
Johnson also quoted Catholic Vote, a right-wing group, which declared, “The DNC is demonic.” Right Wing Watch recently reported that Catholic Vote has falsely accused Vice President Kamala Harris of harboring a “vile hatred of Catholics.”
Catholic Vote postures as a political organization representing American Catholics, but most American Catholics disagree with the group’s support for a total ban on abortions. In fact, 61 percent of U.S. Catholics believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Catholic Vote supported Ohio Republicans’ democracy-limiting effort to stop voters from enshrining the right to an abortion in the state’s Constitution. Catholic Vote supported the Arizona 1864 total abortion ban that went into effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and Burch opposed the law that overturned it.
Similarly, most U.S. Catholics support marriage equality for same-sex couples, but Catholic Vote does not, and the group regularly attacks progressive Catholic political leaders who support abortion rights or LGBTQ equality.
Right Wing Watch has previously highlighted that the Family Research Council claims to be defenders of religious liberty but has a selective history on the issue. FRC, which strongly supported Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in power after his 2020 election defeat, is involved in the right-wing initiative Project 2025. FRC President Tony Perkins and board chair Michele Bachmann are part of the American Family Association’s effort to ensure that only judges with a “biblical worldview” are nominated to the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
Johnson’s article also criticized other DNC speakers who referenced their faith while supporting legal access to abortion. Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life, who advocates for the nationwide criminalization of all abortions without exceptions, commented, “Hey maybe the party that promotes abortion through all nine months until birth and all kinds of sexual degeneracy shouldn’t be quoting from the Bible that condemns both.”
President Joe Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president, attended the Democratic National Convention, while Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki participated in the Republican National Convention in July.
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