Vice President JD Vance believes religion can address several significant problems facing America. He criticizes Republicans who separate politics from religion when convenient. His book, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, released Tuesday, critiques Christians who apply religious principles without considering reality.
Criticism of Political Ideologies
Vance targets both libertarians and the far left, discussing issues like the economy and immigration. He argues that Republicans overly trust the market, believing free transactions always lead to good outcomes. Meanwhile, Democrats, in his view, overly prioritize self-discovery as inherently good.
The Role of the Church
While many advocate for separation of politics and religion, Vance contends the Christian church’s involvement can help solve national issues. He criticizes Republicans for separating church and state, stating, “When the Church offers its insights on abortion, I sometimes hear people on the left say, ‘The Church should stay out of politics.’” He argues that this attitude marginalizes the Church’s role and ends its influence on critical societal issues.
Christianity should inform the whole of a person.
Vance believes that excluding the Church from areas of disagreement isolates it from society. He emphasizes that Christianity can provide cohesion and allow for debate and dissent.
Immigration and the Catholic Church
The Trump administration’s immigration policies faced criticism from pastors and the Catholic Church. In 2025, the Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed concern about policies affecting immigrants. They stressed the inherent dignity of all people, regardless of immigration status, and urged humane treatment balanced with border regulation. The statement, while criticized by some Republicans, was praised by Vance as “admirably measured.”
Vance calls for practical application of moral principles in immigration discussions. He acknowledges that deportations, even if legal, can cause “heartache.” He highlights difficult policy issues such as the potential for human trafficking with loose enforcement and the challenges of assimilation with high immigration levels.
U.S. Economy and Christianity
Vance questions the Christian approach to today’s economy. He argues that focusing solely on GDP dehumanizes people. He believes the economy should support human flourishing, not be an end in itself.
Criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris’s proposal to extend the school day, Vance suggests solutions that enable parents to spend more time with their children. He also critiques conservatives like Vanessa Brown Calder, who opposes paid parental leave. Vance argues that this focus on commercial interests over familial well-being reflects misplaced priorities.
Vance envisions a Christian economy focused on “creation and dignity,” encouraging Christians to consider both economic and cultural aspects of social life.
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