There was nothing unusual about the conservative Catholic leaders of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, inviting a conservative Catholic to deliver a conservative Catholic speech.
But the May 11 commencement ceremony was different since the speaker was three-time Super Bowl champion Harrison Butker of the nearby Kansas City Chiefs.
The teams star placekicker stressed that being Catholic alone doesnt cut it while attacking many famous Catholics, including President Joe Biden, for, among other choices, making the sign of the cross during a Florida abortion rights rally. Butker spent most of his 20-minute address criticizing many American bishops while also offering blunt defenses of Catholic teachings on sexuality.
But the words that ignited a media firestorm hit closer to home.
Butker asked the female graduates: How many of you are … thinking about all the promotions and titles youre going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world. But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.
Butker stressed that his wife, Isabelle, is a primary educator to our children. She is the one who ensures I never let football or my business become a distraction from that of a husband and father. … It is through our marriage that, Lord willing, we will both attain salvation.
Pundits and comics claimed that Butker criticized working women while his mother, Elizabeth, is a medical physicist in the radiation oncology department at Atlantas Emory University School of Medicine. In a 2020 Mothers Day tribute, Butker tweeted: Growing up my mom was my biggest supporter, guiding me to be the man I needed to become.
Earlier this week, Change.org had gathered 221,866 signatures urging the Kansas City Chiefs management to dismiss Harrison Butker. The petition said the kickers remarks were sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist, thus hindering efforts towards equality, diversity and inclusion in society. It is unacceptable for such a public figure to use their platform to foster harm rather than unity.
The NFLs top diversity and inclusion official, Jonathan Beane, told the press: Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. He added: The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.
In response, Terry Schilling of the American Principles Project noted that Harrison Butker was condemned by the @NFL more quickly than any of the players that were caught in rape, domestic abuse, drug and even murder scandals. All because he advocated for prioritizing family over everything else.
Meanwhile, two famous comics stressed that Butker had a right to state his beliefs, even if they offended many. On The View, Whoopi Goldberg noted: Listen, I like when people say what they need to say. Hes at a Catholic college. Hes a staunch Catholic. These are his beliefs and hes welcome to them. I dont have to believe them. I dont have to accept them.
On his HBO Real Time show, agnostic Bill Maher said he couldnt understand why Butker is now historys greatest monster. Millions of Americans, he added, agree with the superstar kicker. He said, Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but a lot of you are excited about this other way that people everybody used to be. And now … cant that just be a choice, too? And I think that they feel very put upon, like theres only one way to be a good person, and thats to get an advanced degree from one of those (expletive deleted) factories like Harvard.
Tavia Hunt the wife of Butkers employer, Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt stressed that it is not bigoted for a man to affirm motherhood and praise marriage.
Ive always encouraged my daughters to be highly educated and chase their dreams, she wrote on Instagram. I want them to know that they can do whatever they want (that honors God). But I also want them to know that I believe finding a spouse who loves and honors you as or before himself and raising a family together is one of the greatest blessings this world has to offer.
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