Staff Reports
Vice President J.D. Vance is shaking things up with a dive into medieval Catholic theology to back the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies. With a nod to ancient teachings, he makes the case that loyalty should begin at home, not with strangers waiting at the border. His comments on the social media platform X have the left in a tizzy, proving once more that the mere mention of common sense can send progressive heads spinning.
In a recent Fox News interview, Vance’s logic was clear: love your family first, your neighbors second, and only then squeeze in the rest of the world. This pragmatic hierarchy of affection seems to be a no-brainer, yet the “far left” loves to invert that order into a twisted mess of misplaced priorities. Thankfully, the Vice President’s reference to the medieval concept of ordo amoris—translated as “order of love”—brings a breath of fresh air into the convoluted arguments promoted by his critics.
The essence of Vance’s assertion is simple: moral duties to one’s children should take precedence over those owed to distant individuals simply because they happen to live in another country. This is a refreshing change from the incessant calls for “global citizenship” that seem to neglect the well-being of Americans in pursuit of distant causes. Common sense tells us to care for our own first, a principle rooted deep in both logic and biblical teachings.
Drawing from the works of St. Augustine, Vance emphasizes the need to balance love and responsibilities. Augustine, an early theologian, argued that to love properly, one must prioritize affection based on proximity and necessity. Though everyone deserves some level of care, Augustine’s theory promotes the idea that individuals are more obligated to those who share their immediate lives. This wisdom circles back to Vance’s argument—why prioritize unvetted strangers over American citizens trying to make ends meet?
What is ‘ordo amoris?’ Vice President J.D. Vance invokes this medieval Catholic concepthttps://t.co/j6YpEvmMyl pic.twitter.com/wn1jVANsit
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 7, 2025
St. Thomas Aquinas later echoed Augustine’s sentiments by stating that benefits should be directed towards those most closely connected to us. This is a vital reminder that while compassion is important, it should not come at the expense of loved ones and one’s community. Aquinas even noted that sometimes help for a stranger in dire need could supersede that for a family member—but only in extreme cases. However, that nuance is often lost on those who prioritize open borders over the safety and stability of American families.
In summary, Vance’s delve into Catholic theology serves a greater purpose: to reaffirm that the connection one shares with their community must be put above political correctness and misguided altruism. With immigration being a hot-button issue, resonating with the core values of family and community isn’t just a clever tactic—it’s a necessary conversation in today’s America.
