Harrison Butker is about to make another statement condemning his controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College Last weekend. Only this one comes from a unique source.
In a statement shared via FacebookThe sisters of Mount St. Scholastica — a “founding institution and sponsor of Benedictine College” — said they felt it was “necessary” to respond to Butker’s comments.
“The Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments in his 2024 commencement address at Benedictine College represent the Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we are so invested,” the nuns wrote . “Instead of promoting unity in our church, our country and the world, his comments appear to have fostered division. One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is a woman’s highest calling. We sisters have dedicated our lives to this.” God and God’s people, including the many women we have taught and influenced over the past 160 years, have, in their roles as wives and mothers and through their God-given gifts of leadership, scholarship and education made a huge difference. and their careers.”
In his speech, Butker – the Kansas City Chiefs kicker – criticized President Joe Biden and several other politicized issues, saying: “Bad policy and poor leadership have negatively impacted important life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, and growing support for degenerate cultural values and media are all due to the pervasive disorder.”
He also took aim at what he called “dangerous gender ideologies,” adding a timid, overt criticism of Pride Month. The most discussed part of Butker’s speech, however, was his address to the Benedictine Class of 2024 graduates.
“I believe it is you, the women, who have been told the most diabolical lies,” he said. “Some of you may go on to have successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most looking forward to your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you this, my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly began when she began living her calling as a wife and mother.
In their response, the Benedictines said: “Our community has taught young women and men not just to be “housewives” in the limited sense, but rather how to create within themselves a gospel-centered, compassionate home in which to welcome others “We reject a narrow definition of what it means to be Catholic. We are faithful members of the Catholic Church who embrace and promote the values of the Gospel, Saint Benedict and Vatican II and the teachings of Pope Francis.”
“We want to be known as an inclusive, welcoming community that embraces Benedictine values that have endured for more than 1,500 years and have spread to every continent and every country. We believe these values are at the core of Benedictine College,” they continued. “We thank everyone who supports our Mount community and the values we represent. With St. Benedict we pray: ‘Let us prefer nothing to Christ, and may he lead us all together to eternal life.’”
The Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica are just the latest group to speak out and condemn Butker’s comments. Earlier this week the NFL shared a statement about Jonathan Beane, the league’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer.
“Harrison Butker spoke in his personal capacity,” Beane said in a statement to ET. “His views do not align with those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL remains steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
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